Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is this means I need to pray whenever I see sun or moon I need to pray.

Or else is this mean I need to give respect for sun and moon.

Please clarify me , I am bit confused with this hadith.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Eclipse prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.151 Narrated by Abu Masud

Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death of someone from the people, but they are two Signs amongst the Signs of Allah. When you see them stand up and pray."

Your Question: Is this means I need to pray whenever I see sun or moon I need to pray. Or else is this mean I need to give respect for sun and moon.

Please clarify me , I am bit confused with this hadith.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.170 Narrated by Abu Bakra

In the lifetime of the Allah's Messenger (saws) the sun eclipsed and he (saws) went out and reached the Masjid. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered a two Rakah prayer. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he (saws) said, "The sun and the moon are two Signs amongst the Signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." (It so happened that Ibraheem, the son of the Prophet Mohamed (saws) had died on that day and the people were talking about that (assuming that the eclipse was caused by his death).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.158 Narrated by Abu Bakra

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "The sun and the moon are two Signs amongst the Signs of Allah, and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone; but Allah frightens His devotees with it."

Beloved brother, the hadith specifies the guides the believers to remember Allah Subhanah and offer a prayer (salatul Kasuf) when they see or experience an ‘eclipse’……there is neither any mention of ‘respecting’ the sun or the moon in the said hadith, nor is there mention or requirement upon the believers to offer a prayer when they see the two Signs of Allah Subhanah, the sun and the moon on a daily basis!…..but when there happens to be an eclipse, one is guided to fear Allah their Lord, remember Him, and hasten to offer the Sunnah prayer of the eclipse or ‘Salatul Kasuf’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan