Chapter
His guidance concerning the eclipse prayer
When the sun was eclipsed, he (peace and blessings be upon him) hurried to the mosque in alarm, trailing his cloak. The eclipse occurred early in the day, when the sun had risen to a height of two or three spear-lengths. He stepped forward and prayed two units of prayer. In the first, he recited the opening surah of the Quran and a long surah, reciting aloud. He then bowed, prolonging the bowing. Then he raised his head and stood for a long time, though less than during the first standing. As he raised his head, he said: “Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.” He then resumed reciting, before bowing again for a long time, though less than during the first bowing (1). He then prostrated, prolonging the prostration. In the second unit (2), he did as he had done in the first. Thus, each unit contained two bowings and two prostrations, making a total of four bowings (3) and four prostrations (4) in the two units.
During that prayer, he saw Paradise and the Fire. He intended to take a cluster of grapes from Paradise to show it to them. He saw those being punished in the Fire: he saw a woman being scratched by a cat she had tied up until it died of hunger and thirst. He also saw ‘Amr ibn Mālik dragging his intestines in the Fire; he had been the first to alter the religion of Abraham (5). And he saw in it the thief who stole from pilgrims being punished (6).