5/152. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1263 — How the Eclipse Prayer Was Prayed
What was narrated concerning the eclipse Prayer
How to Pray Eclipse Prayer from Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1263
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1263
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَامَ فَكَبَّرَ فَصَفَّ النَّاسُ وَرَاءَهُ فَقَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قِرَاءَةً طَوِيلَةً ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَرَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ " . ثُمَّ قَامَ فَقَرَأَ قِرَاءَةً طَوِيلَةً هِيَ أَدْنَى مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ الأُولَى ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَرَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً هُوَ أَدْنَى مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ " . ثُمَّ فَعَلَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُخْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاسْتَكْمَلَ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَرْبَعَ سَجَدَاتٍ وَانْجَلَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْصَرِفَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ. لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ. فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The sun was eclipsed during the life of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to the mosque and stood and said the Takbir, and the people formed rows behind him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited for a long time, then he said the Takbir and bowed for a long time. Then he raised his head and said: ‘Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, Rabban was lakal-hamd.’ Then he stood and recited for a long time, but shorter than the first recitation. Then he said the Takbir and bowed for a long time, but less than the first bowing. Then he said: ‘Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.’ Then he did the same in the next Rak’ah, and he completed four Rak’ah and four sets of prostration, and the eclipse ended before he finished.Then he stood and addressed the people. He praised Allah as He deserves to be praised, then he said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. If you see that then seek help in prayer.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1263In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 461English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1263
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1263
This detailed Hadith explains the eclipse prayer in action. When the sun was eclipsed, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went to the mosque, said Takbir, and the people lined up behind him. He recited for a long time, bowed for a long time, stood again, recited again, and bowed again. The same pattern was repeated in the next Rak'ah, making four bows and four prostrations in total. Afterward, he addressed the people and said that the sun and moon are signs of Allah. They do not eclipse for anyone's death or birth. If people see them, they should seek help in prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The eclipse prayer is connected with long standing, recitation, bowing, and prostration.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the people in prayer during the eclipse.
- The sun and moon are signs of Allah, not signs of human death or birth.
- Prayer is a means of seeking help when such signs are seen.
