Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu.

Regarding todays Total Lunar Eclipse

There are authentic Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed how Salat-ul-Kusuf can be performed. He (peace be upon him) ordered that people should be called to it by announcing as-salatu jami’ah “‘Gather for Salah”.

The most authentic reports concerning this Salah show that it consists of two Rak’ahs and that in each Rak’ah one should make two recitations and perform two Ruku’ (bowings) and two Sujud (prostrations). The person should make lengthy recitation, Ruku’ and Sujud. The first recital and Ruku’ should be longer than the second ones. Similarly, the recitation in the second Rak`ah should be shorter than the second recital in the first Rak`ah. The person should make Ruku’ in the second Rak`ah for a shorter time than the two Ruku’ in the first one. During the second Rak`ah, the person should make a second recital and Ruku’ for a shorter time than the first in the same Rak`ah.

As for the two Sujud, it is a Sunnah (recommended) to be lengthy providing that this does not cause any difficulty to the Ma’mums because this was the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) way.

Upon completing Salah, the Imam, if he is knowledgeable, is allowed to give a sermon and tell people that the solar and lunar eclipse are two signs of Allah (Exalted be He) by which He frightens His servants. The Muslims, upon seeing it, are prescribed to offer Salah, remember Allah (Exalted be He), make Du`a’ and Takbir, give in charity and emancipate a believing slave until the end of the eclipse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, >. So when you see either of them, observe Prayer, and supplicate Allah (may He be Exalted) till it is cleared from you. Another narration reads, > It is narrated in some Hadith that the person should give in charity and emancipate slaves.

The astronomical reports about the timing of the eclipse must not be taken as the basis for offering Salat-ul-Kusuf. Some people of knowledge, including Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his knowledgeable disciple Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah be merciful with both of them, supported this view saying that the astronomers may sometimes be wrong and then these reports are not reliable and people should not offer Salat-ul-Kusuf depending on them. Rather, they have to offer the Salah upon seeing the eclipse when it is happening.

SALĀTUL KHUSŪF (Lunar Eclipse Prayers)…

in sha Allah, India will witness a Lunar Eclipse on 31 Jan, 2018 ~ *5:30pm – 7:30pm* , and its a Sunnah to pray SALĀTUL KHUSŪF (Lunar Eclipse Prayers) [Sahih Bukhāri]

*find out the prayer timings in your locality…*

METHOD (Summarised from Sahīh Al-Bukhāri)::

1⃣Takbirat-ul-Ihram, i.e. “Allahu Akbar” upon starting.
2⃣Surah Al-Fatihah and a *LONG* Surah are recited.
3⃣ *LONG* Ruku.
4⃣After the first Ruku – *AGAIN* recite Surah Al-Fatihah and a *LONG* Surah (shorter than the preceding Surah).
5⃣ *LONG* Ruku (shorter than the preceding Ruku)
6⃣Sujood:There are 2 *LONG* Sujud.
7⃣Next Rakah – REPEAT *1 — 6* – (shortening every step from the preceding Rakat).

•In brief: it consists of 2 Rak’ahs and that in *EACH* Rak’ah we should make *two LONG recitations* and perform *2 LONG Ruku* and *2 LONG Sujud*.

•The FIRST Rakah’s *RECITATION, RUKU, SUJOOD* should be lengthier than 2nd.

•The SECOND Rakah’s *RECITATION, RUKU, SUJOOD* should be SHORTER than the 1st.

•The two Sujud shoud be lengthy provided it does not cause any difficulty to others.

•Upon completing Salah, the Imam, if he is knowledgeable, is allowed to give a sermon and tell people that the solar and lunar eclipse are *two Ayāt of Allah* by which He frightens His slaves.

*we have been advised to offer Salah, remember Allah, make Dua’ and Takbir, give in charity and emancipate a believing slave until the end of the eclipse….*

An eclipse is Allah frightening His slaves; in that:
•He who blocked out the sun and moon for a limited time is capable of blocking it out forever, and
•He who changed the condition of a PLANET is *capable of changing the condition of those on it…*