16/12. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1478 — Eclipse Is Not an Omen
Another version
Solar Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Signs of Allah, Not Omens
Sunan an-Nasai : 1478
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1478
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَنَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، صَاحِبُ الدَّسْتَوَائِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي يَوْمٍ شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِأَصْحَابِهِ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ حَتَّى جَعَلُوا يَخِرُّونَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَنَعَ نَحْوًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَجَعَلَ يَتَقَدَّمُ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَكَانَتْ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَرْبَعَ سَجَدَاتٍ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ إِلاَّ لِمَوْتِ عَظِيمٍ مِنْ عُظَمَائِهِمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُرِيكُمُوهُمَا فَإِذَا انْخَسَفَتْ فَصَلُّوا حَتَّى تَنْجَلِيَ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The sun eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a very hot day. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led his companions in prayer, and he stood for so long that they started to fall over. Then he bowed for a long time, then he stood up (and remained standing) for a long time. Then he bowed again for a long time, then he stood up (again) and (remained standing) for a long time. Then he prostrated twice, then he stood up and did the same again. He started to move forward, then he started to step back. He bowed four times and prostrated four times.They used to say that eclipses of the sun and moon only happened when one of their great men died, but they are two of the signs of Allah (SWT) that He shows to you, so when an eclipse happens, pray until it is over.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1478In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1479
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1478
This Hadith from Jabir describes a solar eclipse on a very hot day. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) led his companions in prayer and stood for so long that some began to fall over. The narration mentions long bowing, long standing, two prostrations, then a similar second rak'ah. It also says he moved forward and stepped back. The prayer included four bowings and four prostrations. The Hadith then corrects a belief people had: they used to say eclipses happened when a great man died. The Prophet's teaching is that the sun and moon are signs of Allah shown to people. When an eclipse happens, pray until it ends.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet led a very long eclipse prayer on a hot day.
- The narration reports four bowings and four prostrations.
- The Hadith rejects the idea that eclipses happen because a great person dies.
- Muslims are told to pray until the eclipse is over.
