First: The ruling on the prayer for solar and lunar eclipses.
Second: Its manner and number of units.
Third: The prayer for a lunar eclipse is like that for a solar eclipse. The details are as follows:
- (1-13-4) The Ruling on the Prayer for Solar and Lunar Eclipses:
The prayer for solar and lunar eclipses is an emphatically established sunnah, and it is strongly recommended that a Muslim perform it.
This is demonstrated by the following report:
Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—said: “The sun was eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—so he led the people in prayer. He stood and prolonged the standing; then he bowed and prolonged the bowing. He then stood and prolonged the standing, though it was shorter than the first standing. He then bowed and prolonged the bowing, though it was shorter than the first bowing. He then prostrated and prolonged the prostration. In the second unit, he did as he had done in the first. He then concluded the prayer, by which time the sun had cleared. He addressed the people, praised and extolled Allah, and then said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs. They are not eclipsed because of anyone’s death or birth. When you see this, call upon Allah, proclaim His greatness, pray, and give charity.’ He then said: ‘O nation of Muhammad! By Allah, no one has a greater sense of protective jealousy than Allah when His male or female servant commits unlawful sexual intercourse. O nation of Muhammad! If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.’” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. (1)
I say: The hadith indicates this because the command to pray is coupled with the command to proclaim Allah’s greatness