Many of us might not be aware of the fact that there is a special prayer in Islam to be performed at the time of an eclipse, whether it be a solar or lunar eclipse. In fact, this prayer is Mustahabb and considered highly recommended.
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you see the eclipses, then pray and invoke Allah until the eclipse is over”.
Bukhari and Muslim
How to Pray the Eclipse Prayer?
Firstly after making the intention and opening the prayer with Takbirat Al-Ihram you read Surah Al Fatiha followed by another Surah of your choice.
Following this, one must bow and prolong his bowing with extra Tasbih and Duaa’.
Then after this, one must stand up again and recite Surah Al Fatihah once more followed by a secondary recitation of the Quran. This is a major difference to normal prayer.
Please note it is Sunnah to prolong one’s standing, however one should try to make their first standing longer than their second standing.
Then after this, one must bow again, and also prolong his bowing, although not as long as the first.
Then after this one continues to pray as normal, by standing back and up and prostrating twice. One must however aim to prolong his Sujood.
In the second Rak’aah, one must repeat the same process as in the first, which consists of two sets of standing for Surah Al Fatihah and a Quran recitation along with two sets of Rukoo’ or bowing.
Then one must get back up stand and then perform two final Sujoods followed by the Tashahud and Tasleem.
The prayer is two Rak’aat in totality and is recommended to be prayed in congregation.It is also followed by a sermon enjoining people towards righteousness and to leave off sin and vice.
If it is for a lunar eclipse, the prayer is recited aloud while if it is a solar eclipse, the prayer is recited to oneself silently.
Now Off course, there are other valid opinions of how this prayer is performed within the four major schools of fiqh, so its best to follow the lead of your local scholar and avoid unnecessary debates.
May Allah make us of those who revive the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in all our actions.