Actions to be carried out during the eclipse:

Actions to be carried out during the eclipse:

Shaykh ibn 'Uthaymen ( Rahimahu Allah) said:

There are seven things that the Prophet ( SalAllahu Alayhi WaSalam ) commanded to be done at the time of the eclipse, and all of them are authentically established in Saheeh Al-Bukharee; and they are:

(1) Salaah [Prayer]
(2) Supplication [Du'a]
(3 ) Seeking Forgiveness [Tawbah]
(4) Making the Takbeer [Allahuakbar]
(5) Making Dhikr [Remembrance of ALLAH]
(6) Giving in Charity [Sadaqah] (7) Freeing slaves.
[Majmu' Fatawaa wa Rasaa-il Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen 16/290]

Regarding Salat-ul Khusuf ( Prayer of Eclipse).

Question:

How many Rak'ahs (unit of Prayer) are there in Salat-ul-Khusuf ( Prayer in Lunar eclipse)? And what is to be recited in them?

Answer :

Salat-ul-Kusuf ( Prayer on a solar eclipse) and Salat-ul-Khusuf ( Prayer on a Lunar eclipse ) are each comprised of two Rak'ahs ( unit of Prayer ). Recitation in both Salahs ( Prayers) is performed out loud. In each Rak'ah, there are two Ruku's ( bowing ), the second of which is always shorter than the first, and there are also two recitations. After the Takbirat-ul-Ihram ( saying: "Allahuakbar [Allah is the Greatest]" upon starting Prayer), Surah Al-Faatihah and a long Surah are recited, which is shorter than the preceding recitation. There are two Sujuds (Prostrations) in each Rak'ah. This is the Most authentic report mentioned regarding this Salaah.
May ALLAH ( Subhana Wa Ta'la ) grant us success! May Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ( SalAllahu Alayhi WaSalam ), his family and Companions!
[Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta']

Question: How should Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer on a solar eclipse ) and Salat-ul-Khusuf ( Prayer on a Lunar eclipse ) be performed? Is there any difference between them? What is your opinion on the reports published by the papers about the timings of a Solar or Lunar eclipse?

Answer: A: There are authentic Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed how Salat-ul-Kusuf can be performed. He (peace be upon him) ordered that people should be called to it by announcing as-salatu jami’ah “‘Gather for Salah”.

The most authentic reports concerning this Salah show that it consists of two Rak’ahs and that in each Rak’ah one should make two recitations and perform two Ruku’ (bowings) and two Sujud (prostrations). The person should make lengthy recitation, Ruku’ and Sujud. The first recital and Ruku’ should be longer than the second ones. Similarly, the recitation in the second Rak`ah should be shorter than the second recital in the first Rak`ah. The person should make Ruku’ in the second Rak`ah for a shorter time than the two Ruku’ in the first one. During the second Rak`ah, the person should make a second recital and Ruku’ for a shorter time than the first in the same Rak`ah.

As for the two Sujud, it is a Sunnah (recommended) to be lengthy providing that this does not cause any difficulty to the Ma’mums because this was the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) way.

Upon completing Salah, the Imam, if he is knowledgeable, is allowed to give a sermon and tell people that the solar and lunar eclipse are two signs of Allah (Exalted be He) by which He frightens His servants. The Muslims, upon seeing it, are prescribed to offer Salah, remember Allah (Exalted be He), make Du`a’ and Takbir, give in charity and emancipate a believing slave until the end of the eclipse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, <<Verily the sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah by which He frightens His servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death or birth of anybody>>. So when you see either of them, observe Prayer, and supplicate Allah (may He be Exalted) till it is cleared from you. Another narration reads, <<So whenever you see them, haste to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask Him for forgiveness.>> It is narrated in some Hadith that the person should give in charity and emancipate slaves.

The astronomical reports about the timing of the eclipse must not be taken as the basis for offering Salat-ul-Kusuf. Some people of knowledge, including Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his knowledgeable disciple Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah be merciful with both of them, supported this view saying that the astronomers may sometimes be wrong and then these reports are not reliable and people should not offer Salat-ul-Kusuf depending on them. Rather, they have to offer the Salah upon seeing the eclipse when it is happening.

The publications of the astronomers’ reports about the timing of eclipse should be banned by the Ministry of Information lest some people should be deceived by them. These publications may make people feel less fear upon seeing the eclipse. Allah (Exalted be He) has made them to be frightening and hence, people remember, fear, invoke Allah, and treat their slaves well. May Allah grant us success!

[Source : Volume 13 > Completion of the Book of Salah (Prayer) > Salat-ul-Kusuf > the manner of Salat Al-Kusuf]

Eclipse Prayer can be done individually or in congregation

Question: Do we have to pray Salaatul Khusoof (eclipse prayer) even if we do not witness it? And are there any specific ad’iyah (pl. duâaa) that we have to say in the day or during the eclipse?

Answer: The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “The sun and the moon are two signs from the signs of Allaah. They do not eclipse for the death of anyone neither their life (i.e. birth). So when you see them offer the prayer and supplicate until the eclipse passes away.”
[(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book #18, Hadith #156)(Reported by An-Nisaaee 3/152), Shaikh Al-Albaanee رحمه الله says Saheeh in Sunan An-Nisaaâee (#1502)].

If someone establishes that an eclipse is present then he should pray the Eclipse Prayer (Salaatul Khusoof), whether he has to pray it individually or in congregation and similarly whether it is a man or a woman. It is performed as described in the Shareeâah (Legislation).

Taken from the Title of Lecture: The Four Principles by Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab]