16/10. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1470 — Remember Allah During Eclipse
Another version of the eclipse prayer
Eclipse Prayer and Dhikr: Turn to Allah Until It Clears
Sunan an-Nasai : 1470
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1470
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ، أُصَدِّقُ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ بِالنَّاسِ قِيَامًا شَدِيدًا يَقُومُ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ ثَلاَثَ رَكَعَاتٍ رَكَعَ الثَّالِثَةَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ حَتَّى إِنَّ رِجَالاً يَوْمَئِذٍ يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى إِنَّ سِجَالَ الْمَاءِ لَتُصَبُّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِمَّا قَامَ بِهِمْ يَقُولُ إِذَا رَكَعَ " اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ " . وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ " . فَلَمْ يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَامَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنْ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُخَوِّفُكُمْ بِهِمَا فَإِذَا كَسَفَا فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَا " .
'Ata said: "I heard Ubaid bin Umair say: 'Someone whom I trust'- and I think he meant Aishah- told me: There was an eclipse of the sun during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He led the people in prayer and stood for a very long time, then he bowed, then he stood, then he bowed, then he stood, then he bowed. He prayed two rak'ahs, bowing three times in each rak'ah. After bowing for the third time he prostrated for a long time. Some men fainted on that day and had to be revived by having buckets of water thrown over them, because of having stood for so log. When he bowed, he said: Allahu Akbar, and when he raised his head, he said: Sami' Allahu lima hamidah.He did not finish until the eclipse had ended. Then he stood and praised and glorified Allah (SWT) and said: The sun and moon do not eclipse for the death or birth of anyone, but they are two of the signs of Allah (SWT) with which He strikes fear unto you. If they are eclipsed then turn to the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, until it (the eclipse) is over.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1470In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 12English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1471
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1470
This longer eclipse prayer hadith gives both action and teaching. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led a very long prayer during the solar eclipse. The narration mentions repeated bowing, long standing, and people becoming weak because of the long prayer. It also records the words Allahu Akbar when bowing and Sami' Allahu lima hamidah when rising. After the eclipse ended, he praised Allah and taught that the sun and moon do not eclipse for anyone's death or birth. They are signs of Allah by which He causes fear. The instruction is to turn to the remembrance of Allah until the eclipse is over. This makes dhikr, prayer, and humility the heart of Salat al-Kusuf.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet prayed at length during the eclipse.
- The eclipse is described as a sign of Allah.
- The Hadith rejects linking eclipse to death or birth.
- Believers are told to turn to Allah's remembrance until it clears.
