16/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1493 — Eclipse Prayer, Paradise and Hell
Length of recitation for the eclipse prayer
Long Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Remember Allah and Avoid Ingratitude
Sunan an-Nasai : 1493
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1493
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ مَعَهُ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً قَرَأَ نَحْوًا مِنْ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ قَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَقَدْ تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْنَاكَ تَنَاوَلْتَ شَيْئًا فِي مَقَامِكَ هَذَا ثُمَّ رَأَيْنَاكَ تَكَعْكَعْتَ . قَالَ " إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ أُرِيتُ الْجَنَّةَ فَتَنَاوَلْتُ مِنْهَا عُنْقُودًا وَلَوْ أَخَذْتُهُ لأَكَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ مَا بَقِيَتِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَأَيْتُ النَّارَ فَلَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ وَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ " . قَالُوا لِمَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " بِكُفْرِهِنَّ " . قِيلَ يَكْفُرْنَ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ " يَكْفُرْنَ الْعَشِيرَ وَيَكْفُرْنَ الإِحْسَانَ لَوْ أَحْسَنْتَ إِلَى إِحْدَاهُنَّ الدَّهْرَ ثُمَّ رَأَتْ مِنْكَ شَيْئًا قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْكَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ " .
`Abdullah bin `Abbas Narrated from:
There was an eclipse of the sun and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed and the people with him. He stood for long time reciting something like Surah Al-Baqarah, then he raised (his head) and stood for a long time, then he raised (his head) and stood for a long time which was shorter than the first time. Then he bowed for a long time, which was shorter than the first time, then he prostrated.Then he got up and stood for a long time, which was shorter than the first time, then he bowed for a long time, which was shorter than the first time, then he raised (his head) and stood for a long time, which was shorter than the first time. Then he bowed for a long time, which was shorter than the first time, then he prostrated, then he finished (his prayer) and the sun had been clear. 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 that then remember Allah (SWT) the Mighty and Sublime.'They said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we saw you stretching out your hand when you were standing, then we saw you moving backward. He said: 'I saw Paradise-or it was shown to me- and I reached out to a take a bunch of its fruits. If I ha taken it you would have eaten from it for as long as this world lasts. And I saw Hell and I have never seen anything like it, and I saw that most of its inhabitants are women.'They said: "Why, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? He said: 'Because of their ingratitude.' It was said: 'Are they ungrateful to Allah?' He said: 'They are ungrateful to their husbands and they are ungrateful for kind treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime, then she sees (one) bad thing from you, she will say: I have never seen anything good from you.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1493In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 35English translation : Vol. 2, Book 16, Hadith 1494
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1493
This Hadith about long eclipse prayer is narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed with the people during a solar eclipse. He stood for a long time, with recitation like Surah Al-Baqarah, then bowed and stood again, with later parts shorter than the first. After the prayer ended and the sun had cleared, he taught that the sun and moon are two signs of Allah. They do not eclipse for anyone's death or birth, so people should remember Allah when they see that. The Companions asked about his reaching forward and moving back. He said Paradise was shown to him and he reached for its fruits, and Hell was shown to him. The narration then warns against ingratitude for kind treatment.
What we learn from this hadith
- An eclipse should lead to remembrance of Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed a long prayer during the eclipse.
- The sun and moon do not eclipse for death or birth.
- The narration warns against denying kind treatment.
