16/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1490 — Eclipse and Jahiliyyah Belief
Another version
Eclipse Hadith Against Jahiliyyah Belief: Pray Until It Clears
Sunan an-Nasai : 1490
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1490
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ خَرَجَ يَوْمًا مُسْتَعْجِلاً إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَقَدِ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى حَتَّى انْجَلَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْخَسِفَانِ إِلاَّ لِمَوْتِ عَظِيمٍ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَإِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْخَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنَّهُمَا خَلِيقَتَانِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ يُحْدِثُ اللَّهُ فِي خَلْقِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ فَأَيُّهُمَا انْخَسَفَ فَصَلُّوا حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ أَوْ يُحْدِثَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came rushing out to the masjid one day when the sun eclipsed, and he prayed until the eclipse ended, then he said: "The people of Jahilliyyah used to say that eclipses of the sun and the moon only happened when some great man on earth died. But eclipses of the sun and the moon do not happen for the death or birth of anyone. Rather they are two of the creations of Allah (SWT) and Allah (SWT) causes to happen in His creation what He wills. Whichever of them becomes eclipsed, pray until it is over or Allah (SWT) causes something to happen."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1490In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1491
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1490
This Hadith about eclipse and Jahiliyyah belief shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rushing to the masjid when the sun eclipsed. He prayed until the eclipse ended. Then he explained that the people of Jahiliyyah used to say that the sun and moon eclipsed only when a great man on earth died. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected that belief. The sun and moon do not eclipse because of anyone's death or birth. Rather, they are two creations of Allah, and Allah causes what He wills to happen in His creation. The instruction is to pray until the eclipse clears or until Allah causes something to happen. This Hadith teaches Muslims to leave false beliefs and respond with worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected a false Jahiliyyah belief about eclipses.
- Eclipses are not caused by the death or birth of people.
- The sun and moon are creations of Allah.
- Prayer should continue until the eclipse ends or Allah causes another matter.
