Sahih Al-Bukhari: Chapter 16

We were with Allah's Messenger (PbUH) when the sun eclipsed. Allah's Messenger (PbUH) stood up dragging his cloak till
he entered the Mosque. He led us in a two-rak`at prayer till the sun (eclipse) had cleared. Then the
Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death. So
whenever you see these eclipses pray and invoke (Allah) till the eclipse is over."

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death of someone from the
people but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. When you see them stand up and pray."

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (i.e. birth) of
someone but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. When you see them offer the prayer."

"The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (PbUH) on the day when (his son) Ibrahim died. So the
people said that the sun had eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim. Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "The sun
and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (i.e. birth) of someone. When you see the
eclipse pray and invoke Allah."

In the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer, and stood
up and performed a long Qiyam, then bowed for a long while. He stood up again and performed a
long Qiyam but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first. He bowed again for a long
time but shorter than the first one, then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in
the second rak`a as he did in the first and then finished the prayer; by then the sun (eclipse) had
cleared. He delivered the Khutba (sermon) and after praising and glorifying Allah he said, "The sun
and the moon are two signs against the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of
anyone. So when you see the eclipse, remember Allah and say Takbir, pray and give Sadaqa." The
Prophet then said, "O followers of Muhammad! By Allah! There is none who has more ghaira (selfrespect)
than Allah as He has forbidden that His slaves, male or female commit adultery (illegal
sexual intercourse). O followers of Muhammad! By Allah! If you knew that which I know you would
laugh little and weep much.

"When the sun eclipsed in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (PbUH) an announcement was made that a prayer
was to be offered in congregation."

(the wife of the Prophet (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) In the lifetime of the Prophet (PbUH) the sun eclipsed and he went to the
Mosque and the people aligned behind him. He said the Takbir (starting the prayer) and prolonged the
recitation (from the Qur'an) and then said Takbir and performed a prolonged bowing; then he (lifted
his head and) said, "Sami allahu liman hamidah" (Allah heard him who sent his praises to Him). He
then did not prostrate but stood up and recited a prolonged recitation which was shorter than the first
recitation. He again said Takbir and then bowed a prolonged bowing but shorter than the first one and
then said, "Sami`a l-lahu Lyman hamidah Rabbana walak-lhamd, (Allah heard him who sent his
praises to Him. O our Sustainer! All the praises are for You)" and then prostrated and did the same in
the second rak`a; thus he completed four bowing and four prostrations. The sun (eclipse) had cleared
before he finished the prayer. (After the prayer) he stood up, glorified and praised Allah as He
deserved and then said, "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse
because of the death or the life (i.e. birth) of someone. When you see them make haste for the prayer."
Narrated Az-Zuhri: I said to 'Urwa, "When the sun eclipsed at Medina your brother (`Abdullah bin Az-Zubair) offered only a two-rak`at prayer like that of the morning (Fajr) prayer." 'Urwa replied, "Yes,
for he missed the Prophet's tradition (concerning this matter)."

(the wife of the Prophet) On the day when the sun Khasafat (eclipsed) Allah's Messenger (PbUH) prayed; he
stood up and said Takbir and recited a prolonged recitation, then he performed a prolonged bowing,
then he raised his head and said, "Sami`a l-lahu Lyman Hamidah," and then remained standing and
recited a prolonged recitation which was shorter than the first. Then he performed a prolonged bowing
which was shorter than the first. Then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration and he did the same
in the second rak`a as in the first and then finished the prayer with Taslim. By that time the sun
(eclipse) had cleared He addressed the people and said, "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of
Allah; they do not eclipse (Yakhsifan) because of the death or the life (i.e. birth) of someone. So when
you see them make haste for the prayer."

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not
eclipse because of the death of someone but Allah frightens His devotees with them."

A Jewess came to ask `Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) about something. She said to her, "May Allah
give you refuge from the punishment of the grave." So `Aisha ' asked Allah's Messenger (PbUH) "Would the
people be punished in their graves?" Allah's Messenger (PbUH) after seeking refuge with Allah from the
punishment of the grave (and thus replied in the affirmative). Then one day, Allah's Messenger (PbUH) rode to go
to some place but the sun eclipsed. He returned in the forenoon and passed through the rear of the
dwellings (of his wives) and stood for the (eclipse) prayer, and the people stood behind him. He stood
up for a long period and then performed a prolonged bowing which was shorter than the first bowing.
Then he raised his head and prostrated. Then he stood up (for the second rak`a) for a long while but
the standing was shorter than that of the first rak`a. Then he performed a prolonged bowing which was
shorter than the first one. Then he raised his head and prostrated. Then he stood up for a long time but
shorter than the first. Then he performed a prolonged bowing but shorter than the first. Then he raised
his head and prostrated and finished the prayer and (then delivered the sermon and) said as much as
Allah wished. And then he ordered the people to seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the
grave.

When the sun eclipsed in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (PbUH) and an announcement was made that the
prayer was to be held in congregation. The Prophet (PbUH) performed two bowing in one rak`a. Then he stood
up and performed two bowing in one rak`a. Then he sat down and finished the prayer; and by then the
(eclipse) had cleared `Aisha said, "I had never performed such a long prostration."

The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of the Prophet (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) . Allah's Messenger (PbUH) offered the eclipse prayer
and stood for a long period equal to the period in which one could recite Surat-al-Baqara. Then he
bowed for a long time and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first
standing, then bowed again for a long time but for a shorter period than the first; then he prostrated
twice and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first standing; then he
bowed for a long time which was shorter than the previous one, and then he raised his head and stood
up for a long period which was shorter than the first standing, then he bowed for a long time which
was shorter than the first bowing, and then prostrated (twice) and finished the prayer. By then, the sun
(eclipse) had cleared. The Prophet (PbUH) then said, "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah.
They eclipse neither because of the death of somebody nor because of his life (i.e. birth). So when you
see them, remember Allah." The people say, "O Allah's Messenger (PbUH)! We saw you taking something from
your place and then we saw you retreating." The Prophet (PbUH) replied, "I saw Paradise and stretched my
hands towards a bunch (of its fruits) and had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the
world remains. I also saw the Hell-fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of
the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (PbUH)! Why is it so?" The Prophet (PbUH)
replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The
Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good
deeds. If you are benevolent to one of them throughout the life and if she sees anything (undesirable)
in you, she will say, 'I have never had any good from you.' "

Asma' bint Al Bakr said, "I came to `Aisha the wife of the Prophet (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) during the solar eclipse.
The people were standing and offering the prayer and she was also praying too. I asked her, 'What has
happened to the people?' She pointed out with her hand towards the sky and said, 'Subhan-Allah'. I
said, 'Is there a sign?' She pointed out in the affirmative." Asma' further said, "I too then stood up for
the prayer till I fainted and then poured water on my head. When Allah's Messenger (PbUH) had finished his
prayer, he thanked and praised Allah and said, 'I have seen at this place of mine what I have never
seen even Paradise and Hell. No doubt, it has been inspired to me that you will be put to trial in the
graves like or nearly like the trial of (Masih) Ad-Dajjal. (I do not know which one of the two Asma'
said.) (The angels) will come to everyone of you and will ask what do you know about this man (i.e.
Muhammad). The believer or a firm believer (I do not know which word Asma' said) will reply, 'He is
Muhammad, Allah's Messenger (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) who came to us with clear evidences and guidance, so we
accepted his teachings, believed and followed him.' The angels will then say to him, 'Sleep peacefully
as we knew surely that you were a firm believer.' The hypocrite or doubtful person (I do not know
which word Asma' said) will say, 'I do not know. I heard the people saying something so I said it (the
same).' "

No doubt the Prophet (PbUH) ordered people to manumit slaves during the solar eclipse.

A Jewess came to `Aisha to ask her about something and then she said, "May Allah give you refuge
from the punishment of the grave." So `Aisha asked Allah's Messenger (PbUH), "Would the people be punished
in their graves?" Allah's Messenger (PbUH) asked Allah's refuge from the punishment of the grave (indicating an
affirmative reply). Then one day Allah's Messenger (PbUH) rode (to leave for some place) but the sun eclipsed.
He returned on the forenoon and passed through the rear of the dwellings (of his wives) and stood up
and started offering the (eclipse) prayer and the people stood behind him. He stood for a long period
and then performed a long bowing and then stood straight for a long period which was shorter than
that of the first standing, then he performed a prolonged bowing which was shorter than the first
bowing, then he raised his head and prostrated for a long time and then stood up (for the second rak`a)
for a long while, but the standing was shorter than the standing of the first rak`a. Then he performed a
prolonged bowing which was shorter than that of the first one. He then stood up for a long time but
shorter than the first, then again performed a long bowing which was shorter than the first and then
prostrated for a shorter while than that of the first prostration. Then he finished the prayer and
delivered the sermon and) said what Allah wished; and ordered the people to seek refuge with Allah
from the punishment of the grave.

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death or life but they
are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so pray whenever you see them."

In the lifetime of the Prophet (PbUH) the sun eclipsed and the Prophet (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) stood up to offer the prayer
with the people and recited a long recitation, then he performed a prolonged bowing, and then lifted
his head and recited a prolonged recitation which was shorter than the first. Then he performed a
prolonged bowing which was shorter than the first and then lifted his head and performed two
prostrations. He then stood up for the second rak`a and offered it like the first. Then he stood up and
said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's life or death but they are two signs
amongst the signs of Allah which He shows to His worshipers. So whenever you see them, make haste
for the prayer."

The sun eclipsed and the Prophet (PbUH) got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment).
He went to the Mosque and offered the prayer with the longest Qiyam, bowing and prostration that I
had ever seen him doing. Then he said, "These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the
life or death of somebody, but Allah makes His worshipers afraid by them. So when you see anything
thereof, proceed to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness."

On the day of Ibrahim's death, the sun eclipsed and the people said that the eclipse was due to the
death of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "The sun and the moon are two signs
amongst the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life. So when you see
them, invoke Allah and pray till the eclipse is clear."

And this was narrated by Asma' who said, "Allah's Messenger (PbUH) finished the eclipse prayer and by then the sun (eclipse) had cleared. Then he delivered the Khutba (religious talk) and praised Allah as He deserved and then said Amma ba'du."

In the lifetime of the Prophet (PbUH) the sun eclipsed and then he offered a two rak`at prayer.

In the lifetime of the Allah's Messenger (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes
till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two rak`at.
When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of
Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and
invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet (PbUH) called Ibrahim died on that
day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death).

The Prophet (PbUH) led us and performed four bowing in two rak`at during the solar eclipse and the first rak`a
was longer.

The Prophet (PbUH) (p.b.u.h) recited (the Qur'an) aloud during the eclipse prayer and when he had finished
the eclipse prayer he said the Takbir and bowed. When he stood straight from bowing he would say
"Sami 'allahu liman hamidah Rabbana wa laka l-hamd." And he would again start reciting. In the
eclipse prayer there are four bowing and four prostrations in two rak`at. Al-Auza'i and others said that
they had heard Az-Zuhri from 'Urwa from `Aisha saying, "In the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (PbUH) the sun
eclipsed, and he made a person to announce: 'Prayer in congregation.' He led the prayer and performed
four bowing and four prostrations in two rak`at." Narrated Al-Walid that `Abdur-Rahman bin Namir
had informed him that he had heard the same. Ibn Shihab heard the same. Az-Zuhri said, "I asked
('Urwa), 'What did your brother `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair do? He prayed two rak`at (of the eclipse
prayer) like the morning prayer, when he offered the (eclipse) prayer in Medina.' 'Urwa replied that he
had missed (i.e. did not pray according to) the Prophet's tradition." Sulaiman bin Kathir and Sufyan
bin Husain narrated from Az-Zuhri that the prayer for the eclipse used to be offered with loud
recitation.