During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the sun eclipsed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered the prayer of (the)
eclipse) and so did the people along with him. He performed a long Qiyam (standing posture) during
which Surat-al-Baqara could have been recited; then he performed a pro-longed bowing, then raised
his head and stood for a long time which was slightly less than that of the first Qiyam (and recited
Qur'an). Then he performed a prolonged bowing again but the period was shorter than the period of
the first bowing, then he stood up and then prostrated. Again he stood up, but this time the period of
standing was less than the first standing. Then he performed a prolonged bowing but of a lesser
duration than the first, then he stood up again for a long time but for a lesser duration than the first.
Then he performed a prolonged bowing but of lesser duration than the first, and then he again stood
up, and then prostrated and then finished his prayer. By then the sun eclipse had cleared.
The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah, and they do not
eclipse because of the death or birth of someone, so when you observe the eclipse, remember Allah
(offer the eclipse prayer)." They (the people) said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We saw you stretching your
hand to take something at this place of yours, then we saw you stepping backward." He said, "I saw
Paradise (or Paradise was shown to me), and I stretched my hand to pluck a bunch (of grapes), and
had I plucked it, you would have eaten of it as long as this world exists. Then I saw the (Hell) Fire,
and I have never before, seen such a horrible sight as that, and I saw that the majority of its dwellers
were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What is the reason for that?" He replied,
"Because of their ungratefulness." It was said. "Do they disbelieve in Allah (are they ungrateful to
Allah)?" He replied, "They are not thankful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors done to
them. Even if you do good to one of them all your life, when she seems some harshness from you, she
will say, "I have never seen any good from you.' "
Narrated by Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) when a solar eclipse occurred. The Prophet led the people in prayer and explained that such natural phenomena are signs from Allah, not linked to human events. He also shared a vision of Paradise and Hell, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and the consequences of ingratitude, particularly among women.
Modern Application
This teaching encourages individuals to reflect on their gratitude towards others, especially in relationships. It serves as a reminder to appreciate the good in others and to express gratitude regularly.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Day of Judgment and Prayer because it discusses the significance of prayer during natural phenomena and the moral lessons related to gratitude and accountability.
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.
Do you not see that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allah humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does what He wills.
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
This hadith is #4989 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Wedlock, Marriage (Nikaah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:.