16/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1486 — Two Long Rak'ahs in Eclipse
Another version
Solar Eclipse Salah: Two Long Rak'ahs and a Clear Reminder
Sunan an-Nasai : 1486
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1486
وَأَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، أَنَّ جَدَّهُ، عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْوَازِعِ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ السَّخْتِيَانِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ مُخَارِقٍ الْهِلاَلِيِّ، قَالَ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَنَحْنُ إِذْ ذَاكَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَخَرَجَ فَزِعًا يَجُرُّ ثَوْبَهُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ أَطَالَهُمَا فَوَافَقَ انْصِرَافُهُ انْجِلاَءَ الشَّمْسِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّهُمَا لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا فَصَلُّوا كَأَحْدَثِ صَلاَةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ صَلَّيْتُمُوهَا " .
Qabisah bin Mukhariq Al-Hilali Narrated from:
There was an eclipse of the sun and at the time we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Al-Madinah. He rushed out dragging his garment and prayed two rak'ahs, which he made lengthy. The end of his prayer coincided with the end of the eclipse. He praised and glorified Allah (SWT), then he said: 'The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah (SWT), and they do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. If you see anything of that, then pray like the last obligatory prayer you did before that.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1486In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1487
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1486
This Hadith about solar eclipse salah describes an eclipse in Al-Madinah while Qabisah bin Mukhariq and others were with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rushed out, dragging his garment, and prayed two rak'ahs. The two rak'ahs were made long, and the end of the prayer came together with the end of the eclipse. After that, he praised and glorified Allah. Then he taught that the sun and moon are two signs of Allah and that they do not eclipse because of anyone's death or birth. The guidance is direct: if people see something like that, they should pray like the last obligatory prayer they had prayed. The Hadith keeps the focus on prayer and Allah's signs.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded quickly to the eclipse with prayer.
- The eclipse prayer in this narration was two long rak'ahs.
- Eclipses are signs of Allah, not signs of death or birth.
- The people were told to pray when they see such an event.
