16/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1462 — Pray When You See an Eclipse
The command to pray when there is a lunar eclipse
Solar Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Pray When Allah's Sign Appears
Sunan an-Nasai : 1462
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1462
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي قَيْسٌ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَكِنَّهُمَا آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَصَلُّوا " .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The sun and the moon do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone, rather they are two of the signs of Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime, so when you see that then pray.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1462In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1463
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1462
This narration from Abu Mas'ud repeats the core teaching of the eclipse prayer hadith. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) says that the sun and moon do not become eclipsed because of anyone's death or birth. Instead, they are two signs of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. The Hadith moves people away from omen-based thinking and toward prayer. A Muslim who sees an eclipse is not told to make claims about a person or event. The instruction is to pray. This is why Salat al-Kusuf is searched as the Islamic response to solar eclipse and lunar eclipse. The text keeps the message plain: see the sign, remember Allah, and pray.
What we learn from this hadith
- Eclipses are not caused by a person's death or birth.
- The sun and moon are signs from Allah.
- Prayer is the taught response when an eclipse is seen.
- The Hadith corrects superstition with worship.
