"I heard Ubaid bin Umair say:
'Someone whom I trust'- and I think he meant Aishah- told me: There was an eclipse of the sun during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He led the people in prayer and stood for a very long time, then he bowed, then he stood, then he bowed, then he stood, then he bowed. He prayed two rak'ahs, bowing three times in each rak'ah. After bowing for the third time he prostrated for a long time. Some men fainted on that day and had to be revived by having buckets of water thrown over them, because of having stood for so log. When he bowed, he said: Allahu Akbar, and when he raised his head, he said: Sami' Allahu lima hamidah.He did not finish until the eclipse had ended. Then he stood and praised and glorified Allah (SWT) and said: The sun and moon do not eclipse for the death or birth of anyone, but they are two of the signs of Allah (SWT) with which He strikes fear unto you. If they are eclipsed then turn to the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, until it (the eclipse) is over.'"
Narrated by 'Ata said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident during a solar eclipse when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) led the community in a special prayer. He performed an extended prayer with multiple bows, emphasizing the seriousness of the event and the need for collective remembrance of Allah. The Prophet's actions serve as a model for responding to natural phenomena with prayer and reflection.
Modern Application
In daily salah, this principle encourages individuals to turn to prayer during significant events or moments of fear. It serves as a reminder to seek solace and guidance from Allah during times of uncertainty or awe, reinforcing the importance of faith in daily life.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it demonstrates the practice of performing special prayers during extraordinary events, as exemplified by the actions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
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.
And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray."
