bowings in each prayer cycle, or four bowings, as the author stated, or five bowings; for all of this has been reported from the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them. This is determined by the duration of the eclipse: if it is long, additional bowings may be performed; if it is brief, then limiting it to two bowings is preferable.

If one limits it to two bowings but lengthens the prayer, knowing that the eclipse will last for a long time, this is more preferable and better. The discussion here concerns permissibility; as for what is best, there is no doubt that what is best is what has been reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: that he performed two bowings in each prayer cycle.

Issues:

First: Is what comes after the first bowing an essential pillar or not?

The scholars say that it is a sunnah, not an essential pillar. Accordingly, if one performs it as a voluntary prayer is performed, with one bowing in each prayer cycle, there is no problem, because anything beyond the first bowing is sunnah.

Second: Is a prayer cycle caught by joining the imam in the second bowing?

The answer is: one does not catch the prayer cycle by the second bowing; rather, one catches it by the first bowing. Thus, if a latecomer joins the imam after he has raised his head from the first bowing, that prayer cycle is considered to have been missed, and he must make it up.

Some scholars said that it does count, because it is a bowing.

Others differentiated, saying: it counts if the imam performs three bowings, because if one catches the second bowing when there are three bowings, he has caught most of the prayer cycle, and is therefore like one who caught all of it.

The correct view is the first, because the first bowing is the essential pillar.

Third: If the prayer ends while the eclipse remains, is the prayer repeated