Eclipse Prayer
It is the prayer that is performed when there is an eclipse of sun or moon.
As for the time of the eclipse prayer, it is to start from the beginning of the eclipse until it is clear. The Eclipse prayer is not to be performed after the eclipse, for its due time has been missed. Also, if the eclipse is over before people know of it, they are not to perform the Eclipse prayer.
Its description:
Eclipse Prayer is to be performed with two Rak‘ah, in which one it to recite the Quran aloud. As for the first Rak‘ah, one is to recite Al-Faatihah and another long Soorah. Then, one is to perform a prolonged bowing, and raise one’s head and say, Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd (Allaah hears those who praise Him, Our Lord, praise is Yours) after one stands straight. After that, one is to recite Al-Faatihah and another long Soorah, but shorter than the first. Next, one is to perform a long bowing, but shorter than the first one, and raise one’s head and say: Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fih Mil’ al-samawaati wa mil’ al-ard wa mil’ ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’d " (Allaah hears those who praise Him, Our Lord, praise is Yours, abundant, good and blessed praise (A praise that) fills the heavens and the earth and what lies between them, and whatever else You please. (You Allaah).
One should praise Allaah The Almighty and repeat and prolong saying: Li Rabia Al-Hamd (To my Lord is all praise). Then one is to perform two prolonged prostrations and not to prolong sitting between them and invoke Allaah The Almighty.
Then, one is to perform the second Rak‘ah similar to the first, namely with two prolonged bowing and two prolonged prostration. Finally, one is to recite Tashahhud and say Tasleem.
It is recommended that one perform Eclipse Prayer in congregation. Also, it is recommended for the Imam to preach people after performing the Eclipse Prayer, warn them against heedlessness with regard to Allaah’s commands, and against unawareness. The Imam should also command them to invoke Allaah The Almighty frequently and ask for His forgiveness.
If the prayer is finished before the eclipse is over, one is to resort to the remembering and invoking Allaah The Almighty until it is over, and not to repeat prayer. However, if the eclipse is clear during prayer, one is to complete it lightly and not to finish it straight away and not to interrupt it.
