411 – ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “The Prophet ﷺ recited aloud in the eclipse prayer; he performed four bowings within two rak‘ahs and made four prostrations.” Agreed upon, and this is Muslim’s wording. In another narration recorded by Muslim: “He sent a herald to proclaim, ‘al-salāh jāmi‘ah’ (prayer in congregation).” (1)

Vocabulary of the ḥadīth
• al-salāh jāmi‘ah: al-salāh is the subject and jāmi‘ah the predicate; both may also be read in the accusative—the first as an exhortation, the second as a circumstantial qualifier. The phrase means that the prayer gathers the people in the mosque.

Points derived from the ḥadīth
1 – The eclipse prayer is prescribed and is a confirmed sunnah, by agreement of the scholars.
2 – Its recitation is audible even when the prayer is performed during the day, because it is meant to bring the people together.
3 – It is valid to pray it either individually or in congregation—this is a point of consensus—yet praying it in congregation is superior, also by consensus. Ahmad (6447) relates from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet ﷺ said in his sermon for the eclipse, “Rush to the mosques,” and congregating for it follows his practice.
4 – It consists of four bowings and four prostrations concluded with one taslīm.
5 – There is neither adhān nor iqāmah for it. It is prayed like the ‘Eid prayer, and the call made for it is, “al-salāh jāmi‘ah.” No specific number of repetitions is mentioned; apparently the call is repeated only as much as needed for the people to hear, for that is the intent.
6 – Her statement, “He recited aloud in the eclipse prayer,” and her statement, “He sent a herald to proclaim: al-salāh…"