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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Western Hemisphere: Lunar Eclipse: 5/15-16 |
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| sofia |
| 05/15/03 at 12:37:07 |
| [i]As-salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah, Watch for a lunar eclipse tonight/tomorrow, and preferably pray the eclipse prayer in jama'a, inshaa'Allah. *And* there will be a solar eclipse in two weeks...[/i] :o ------------------------------ Salaat ul-Kusoof - The Eclipse Prayer Total Lunar Eclipse on May 15-16, 2003 [color=green]“It is He Who made the sun as a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. God did not create this but in truth. He explains the signs in detail for people who have knowledge.” [Translation of Surah Yunus 10:5] [/color] [color=green]“And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor the moon, but prostrate yourselves to God, Who created these, if you (truly) worship Him.” (Translation of Surah Fussilat 41:37) [/color] Narrated Abu Musa: The sun eclipsed and the Prophet got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment). He went to the Mosque and offered the prayer with the longest Qiyam [standing], bowing and prostration that I had ever seen him doing. Then he said, [color=blue]"These signs which God sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but God makes His worshippers afraid by them. So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember God, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness." [/color] [Sahih Bukhari. Volume 2, Book 18, Number 167] ------------------------ From http://www.wponline.org/vil/Articles/science/islam_and_the_solar_eclipse.htm [i]Salat al-Kusuf (The Eclipse Prayer) [/i] Ruling: Most of the people of knowledge (‘ulama’) regard it as an important sunnah (mu’akkadah); Imam Abu Hanifah said it was obligatory (wajib), whilst Imam Malik regarded it as equal to Salat al-Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer) in importance. Form: The eclipse prayer consists of two rak’at. Various forms of the rak’at have been narrated, but the most authentic ahadith indicate that each rak’at has two standings (qiyam), two instances of recitation from the Qur’an (qira’ah), two bowings (ruku’) and two prostrations (sujud). This is the view of the majority of the people of knowledge, including Imams Malik, Shafi’i and Ahmad. The number of ruku’ in each rak’at has also been narrated as three, four or more; the Hanafi ‘ulama’ prefer only one ruku’, just as for the daily prayers. However, the most authentic ahadith support the majority view, given above. Congregation: The Sunnah is for the prayer to be held in congregation in the masjid, although individuals who cannot reach the congregation may pray alone. Women may pray at home or attend the congregation. Khutbah (Sermon): The Imam gives this after the congregational prayer, based on the admonition of the Messenger of Allah s.a.w.s. part of which is quoted at the beginning of this article. The khutbah is recommended (mustahabb) according to Imam al-Shafi’i and the majority of the other Imams of Hadith, whilst the Hanafi ‘ulama’ say that the khutbah is not part of the eclipse prayer – they regard the Messenger’s admonition as a general reminder and not a formal sermon. If delivered, the khutbah should contain praise of Allah, the two testimonies of faith (shahadatayn) and reminders about Paradise and the Fire. The Prophet’s admonition also included warnings about unlawful sexual relations and general frivolity about life (both widespread in contemporary British society), and special advice to women regarding ingratitude to their husbands. Timing: The time for the eclipse prayer lasts throughout the eclipse. The prayer must be started during the eclipse, although it can end after the eclipse is over. The khutbah is delivered after the prayer, whether or not the eclipse is still in progress. After the eclipse, the requirement and time for the prayer no longer exists and therefore it is invalid to pray Salat al-Kusuf outside the time of the eclipse. Imams Abu Hanifah and Ahmad have stipulated that the eclipse prayer cannot be held during times when prayer is normally discouraged (makruh), i.e. when the sun is rising or setting over the horizon, or when it reaches its zenith. Other Imams say that the recommendation of the eclipse prayer takes precedence over these discouraged times. [The solar eclipse at the end of Rabi’ al-Thani 1420 / 11th August 1999 lasts from around 10.00am to 12.40pm in the UK, local time insha’ Allah, and is outside the discouraged times for prayer.] Length: The eclipse prayer should be longer than normal daily, weekly or annual prayers. The eclipse prayer performed by the Messenger of Allah s.a.w.s. was extremely long: it started soon after the beginning of the eclipse and ended after the eclipse was over. His prayer included four instances of recitation from the Qur’an, with the first and longest of them being reckoned as "about as lengthy as Surat al-Baqarah." Further, the qiyam, ruku’ and sujud were described as longer than any others seen performed by him s.a.w.s. However, the Imam should as always bear in mind the capabilities of his congregation, and the prayer should not be prolonged excessively for the old and weak amongst them. There is no requirement to prolong the prayer throughout the eclipse, nor to pray extra rak’at. The two-rak’at prayer is made as long as is reasonable, and the remainder of the eclipse is spent in supplication (du’a), general mention and remembrance of Allah (dhikr, including recitation of the Qur’an) and giving charity. For more info on Salaat ul-Kusoof, please see: http://www.quraan.com/Malik/12.asp http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=6111&dgn=3 http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=5901&dgn=3 http://www.isna.net/Library/khutbahs/SignsofAllah.asp |
| 05/15/03 at 12:39:35 |
| sofia |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |