Salatul kusuf and salatul khusuf | Prayer for solar and lunar eclipse | How to pray ?

What is salatul kusoof or khusoof ?

Solar eclipse is called Kusoof and Khusoof is a lunar eclipse. Often both words are used in the same context.

Salah offered at the time of eclipse, solar or lunar, is called either Salatul Kusoof or Salatul Khusoof. It is a Sunnah. At a solar eclipse, Prophet (ﷺ) had led a Salah in congregation.

Ayesha R states, "There was a solar eclipse during Prophet's (ﷺ) life time. He sent a herald to announce a congregation for Salah: "Salah is about to congregate". When people assembled, Prophet (ﷺ) led a two Raka'at Salah, in which four times Ruku and four times Sajda were offered. Aeysha R states that she never before had such prolonged Ruku and Sajda in any Salah. [Bukhari, Muslim]

Why does an eclipse occur?

Abu Moosa R states that when the solar eclipse began, Prophet (ﷺ) stood up alarmed as if it is the Day of Judgement and came to the mosque and offered Salah with prolonged Ruku and Sujood. Abu Moosa R says that he had, till then, never seen Prophet (ﷺ) at such prolonged Qiyam, Ruku and Sujood. Thereafter, Prophet (ﷺ) said, "These are signs that Allah sends forth. They neither occur because of some one's death nor because of some one's birth. But yes! Allah does through these signs put fear into His people. Therefore, when you see these signs, then with fear of Allah and recitals of His Praise, busy yourself in Salah and appeals and pleas of forgiveness." [Bukhari, Muslim]

It so happened that the day the sun was eclipsed in Prophet's (ﷺ) life time, his infant son, Ibrahim R had expired and out of ignorance, people started saying that it was because of the death of Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad R that there was solar eclipse. Therefore, to completely annul such ignorant superstitions, Prophet (ﷺ) explained the real cause of an eclipse and advised the course of action to be followed on such occasions. He (ﷺ) said, "The sun and the moon are two distinctive manifestations of Allah. They are not eclipsed because of a birth or death of someone. O People! When you see the sun or moon eclipsed, immediately get busy in the recital of Allah's Praise, offer invocations and appeals to Him, affirm His Greatness, Grandeur and Magnificence and offer Salah and give away alms and practise charity." [Bukhari, Muslim] Prophet (ﷺ) advised to get engaged in these pious activities because they cancel calamities and difficulties.

Salatul Kusoof

Abdullah Ibn Abbas R states, "At the time of solar eclipse, Prophet (ﷺ) led a Salah in congregation. He stood a prolonged Qiyam equal in duration to the time, the recitation of Suratul Baqarah would take and then was at a prolonged Ruku and thereafter, was once again a prolonged Qiyam, though now for a lesser duration, followed by Ruku, which too, though prolonged was not as extended as the first; after this, Prophet (ﷺ) performed two Sajda. This was followed by another prolonged Qiyam, which was of a duration lesser than the first one, where-after, was Ruku still extended but not as prolonged as the first and then, was again a Qiyam which again was less extended than the first and was once again a Ruku which too was less prolonged than the first and after these, he performed Sujood. The eclipse had ended by the time he ended the Salah." [Bukhari, Muslim]

In the first Raka'ah, Suratul Ankaboot and in the second, Suratur Room is prescribed for recitation, though other Surah may also be recited. For this Salah, there is neither Azān nor a specific place of worship but only an announcement is to precede it. [Bukhari, Muslim]

Salatul Khusoof

Salah offered on moon eclipse is similar to the Salah offerred on a sun eclipse. Imam Hasan Basri RA states, "When Abdullah Ibn Abbas R was the Ameer (Governor) of Basrah, there was a moon eclipse. He went to the mosque and led two Raka'at Salah in congregation."

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Allah and his messenger knows best