Question

What is the Islamic ruling regarding the prayer offered during a solar eclipse? How should Salat al-Kusuf be performed according to the Hanafi school, from the intention until the final salam?

Please also explain the evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and clarify what should be done after the prayer, including the method of making du‘a and whether there is any specific supplication prescribed for a solar eclipse.

Answer

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الجواب وبالله التوفيق

The prayer offered during a solar eclipse is known as Salat al-Kusuf (صلاة الكسوف).

A solar eclipse is one of the great signs of Allah’s power and majesty. Islam teaches that an eclipse is not caused by the birth or death of any human being. Rather, when such a sign appears, Muslims should turn sincerely to Allah through prayer, remembrance, repentance, seeking forgiveness, du‘a, and charity.

Evidence from the Qur’an

Allah Almighty says:

وَمِنْ اٰيٰتِهِ الَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوْا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُنَّ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ اِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُوْنَ

Translation:
“The night and the day, the sun and the moon are among His signs. Don’t worship the sun or the moon; worship Allah their Creator, if you truly worship Him.”

(Surah Fussilat, 41:37)

This verse establishes that the sun and moon are among the signs of Allah. A believer therefore turns to the Creator of the sun and moon rather than attaching superstitious meanings to such natural events.

Evidence from the Hadith

It is narrated that a solar eclipse occurred during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day his son Ibrahim passed away. Some people began associating the eclipse with Ibrahim’s death.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ corrected this belief and said:

إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَصَلُّوا حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ

Translation:
“The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of the death or life of anyone. When you see an eclipse, call upon Allah and perform prayer until it clears.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Kusuf; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Kusuf)

In another authentic narration, Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ شَيْئًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ وَاسْتِغْفَارِهِ

Translation:
“When you see anything of this nature, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, supplication to Him, and seeking His forgiveness.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Kusuf, Hadith 1059)

The narrations of Sayyidah ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها also mention prayer, du‘a, takbir, and charity in connection with an eclipse.

How to Perform Salat al-Kusuf According to the Hanafi School

According to the Hanafi school, Salat al-Kusuf consists of two rak‘ahs and is performed in the general manner of an ordinary two-rak‘ah voluntary prayer.

An important point in the Hanafi method is that each rak‘ah contains one ruku‘ (bowing).

The prayer should preferably be prolonged, particularly the recitation, ruku‘, and sujud.

1. Intention — Niyyah

Perform wudu and stand facing the Qiblah.

Make the intention in your heart to perform two rak‘ahs of Salat al-Kusuf for the sake of Allah.

It is not necessary to pronounce the intention verbally because the place of intention is the heart.

If someone wishes to express it in words, he or she may simply say:

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ الْكُسُوفِ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى

“I intend to perform two rak‘ahs of the eclipse prayer for Allah Almighty.”

These words are only an expression of the intention; they are not a prescribed formula from the Sunnah.

2. Opening Takbir

Raise the hands and say:

اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Then fold the hands as in a normal prayer.

3. First Rak‘ah

Recite the opening supplication (Thana):

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Then recite:

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

followed by:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Then recite Surah al-Fatihah, followed by another surah or a portion of the Qur’an.

It is preferable to make the recitation longer than in an ordinary voluntary prayer.

Then say:

اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

and go into ruku‘.

The ruku‘ should also preferably be prolonged.

While in ruku‘, recite:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

at least three times, and it may be repeated more often.

Then rise from ruku‘ saying:

سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

and while standing say:

رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Then perform two sajdahs in the normal manner. It is also recommended to prolong the prostrations.

In sajdah recite:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

at least three times, and it may be repeated more often.

4. Second Rak‘ah

Stand for the second rak‘ah.

Recite:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

followed by Surah al-Fatihah and another surah or a portion of the Qur’an.

Then perform one ruku‘, rise from it, and perform two sajdahs, as in the first rak‘ah.

5. Final Sitting

After the second sajdah of the second rak‘ah, sit for the final sitting and recite al-Tahiyyat:

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Then recite Salat Ibrahimiyyah (Durood Ibrahim) and a masnun du‘a.

6. Salam

Complete the prayer by turning to the right and saying:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

Then turn to the left and repeat:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

The two rak‘ahs of Salat al-Kusuf are now complete.

An Important Point About the Hanafi Method

According to the Hanafi school, each rak‘ah of Salat al-Kusuf contains one ruku‘.

Other recognised schools of Islamic jurisprudence have a different method based on other authentic narrations, in which two bowings are performed in each rak‘ah.

The Hanafi jurists, however, hold that Salat al-Kusuf is performed as a two-rak‘ah prayer with one ruku‘ in each rak‘ah.

This method is mentioned in the authoritative works of Hanafi jurisprudence, including al-Hidayah, Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘, and al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah.

This difference should be understood as a recognised difference of Islamic jurisprudence and should not become a cause of dispute.

What Should Be Done After Salat al-Kusuf?

After completing the prayer, Muslims should remain engaged in the remembrance and worship of Allah, particularly if the eclipse is still continuing.

The Sunnah encourages:

• Du‘a (الدعاء)
• Istighfar (الاستغفار)
• Dhikr of Allah (ذكر الله)
• Tawbah (التوبة)
• Giving charity (الصدقة)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ وَاسْتِغْفَارِهِ

“Hasten to His remembrance, supplication to Him, and seeking His forgiveness.”

Therefore, one should sincerely turn to Allah and continue making du‘a and istighfar until the eclipse clears.

Du‘a After the Eclipse Prayer

There is no single specific du‘a with fixed wording authentically prescribed exclusively for after Salat al-Kusuf.

Therefore, one may make any appropriate du‘a from the Qur’an and Sunnah and may also ask Allah for forgiveness, mercy, protection, and other lawful needs in one’s own language.

One may frequently say:

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Translation:
“I seek Allah’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance.”

One may also recite the Qur’anic supplication:

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Translation:
“Our Lord, we’ve wronged ourselves. If You don’t forgive us and treat us kindly we will be the losers.”

(Surah al-A‘raf, 7:23)

A person may then make a general du‘a such as:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا، وَارْحَمْنَا، وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا، وَاعْفُ عَنَّا، وَاحْفَظْنَا مِنَ الْفِتَنِ وَالْبَلَاءِ وَالْمَصَائِبِ، وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا دِينَنَا وَدُنْيَانَا وَآخِرَتَنَا، وَاحْفَظْ إِيمَانَنَا وَأَهْلَنَا وَأَوْلَادَنَا، وَارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ، وَفَرِّجْ عَنْهُمْ كُلَّ كَرْبٍ وَبَلَاءٍ، وَارْزُقْنَا تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا، وَحُسْنَ الْخَاتِمَةِ، وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ. آمِين يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

Translation:

“O Allah, forgive our sins, have mercy upon us, accept our repentance, and pardon us. Protect us from trials, calamities, and afflictions. Set right for us our religion, our worldly affairs, and our Hereafter. Protect our faith, our families, and our children. Have mercy upon the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ and relieve them from every distress and hardship. Grant us sincere repentance, a good end to our lives, and make us among Your righteous servants. Amin, O Lord of all the worlds.”

Note: The above Arabic du‘a is a general supplication with permissible meanings; it should not be presented as a specific du‘a taught by the Prophet ﷺ exclusively for a solar eclips.

According to the Hanafi school, Salat al-Kusuf is a two-rak‘ah prayer offered during a solar eclipse.

It is performed generally like an ordinary two-rak‘ah voluntary prayer, with one ruku‘ in each rak‘ah. It is recommended to prolong the recitation, bowing, and prostration.

After the prayer, Muslims should devote themselves to du‘a, istighfar, dhikr, repentance, and charity, particularly until the eclipse has ended.

There is no specific fixed du‘a exclusively prescribed for after Salat al-Kusuf. Therefore, authentic Qur’anic and Prophetic supplications may be recited, and a person may also make sincere du‘a in his or her own words.

وَاللّٰهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ

This fatwa is written By Dr Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al Azhari

References

The Holy Qur’an: Surah Fussilat 41:37; Surah al-A‘raf 7:23.

Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Kusuf; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Kusuf.

Hanafi Fiqh: Al-Hidayah, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Kusuf; Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘, Kitab al-Salah; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, Kitab al-Salah.