They replied: These two hadiths, and others like them, indicate that the command to pray during an eclipse is one of recommendation, not obligation.

Those who held it to be obligatory replied: The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned the five prayers because they are the daily prayers that recur at all times and in every place. As for the eclipse prayer, the greeting of the mosque—according to the view that it is obligatory—and similar prayers, they become obligatory upon the occurrence of their respective causes. What is obligatory due to a particular cause is not like an unconditional obligation.

They said: This is why, if a person vows to pray two units of prayer, he is obliged to pray them, even though they are not among the five daily prayers. They became obligatory because of his vow; thus, what becomes obligatory due to a cause is not like that which is obligatory unconditionally.

This view is very strong. I do not believe it is acceptable for people to see an eclipse of the sun or moon and then pay no heed to it—each occupied with his trade, his amusement, or his farm. This is something for which one should fear that the punishment against which Allah warned us through this eclipse may descend.

Thus, the view that it is obligatory is stronger than the view that it is recommended.

If we hold it to be obligatory, then the apparent view is that it is a communal obligation.

His statement, “In congregation and individually,” means that it is sunnah to perform it in congregation, and sunnah to perform it individually.

That is, congregation is not a condition for it. Rather, it is sunnah for people to perform it in their homes.

The evidence for this is the general wording of the Prophet’s saying, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: “When you see that