Eclipse: "If You See A Natural Disaster, then Prostrate" [Aboo Dawood (1198)]

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1. I swear by the Day of Resurrection;

2. And I swear by the self-reproaching person (a believer).

3. Does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones?

4. Yes, We are Able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.

5. Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing sins.

6. He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection?" they ask whilst actually belying in it.

7. So, when the sight shall be dazed: Qataadah and Muqaatil said this means that the sight of man on that Day will not believe what they see, something which they disbelieved would happen.  

8. And the moon will be eclipsed: its light will be dispelled.

9. And the sun and moon will be joined together: they will be folded up together and their lights disappeared. Once they have been destroyed, they both will be pelted into the sea and then set alight, becoming two huge masses of fire.

10. On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?"

11. No! There is no refuge!

12. Unto your Lord (Alone) will be the place of rest that Day.

13. On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward (of his evil or good deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil traditions).

[Mukhtasar Ma’aalim at-Tanzeel of Imaam al-Baghawee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] (Pg. 989) - Surah al-Qiyaamah]

Issue: If there is an eclipse at the time of a particular prayer (i.e. an obligatory prayer, Jumu’ah,‘Eed etc. ), then the majority stipulate that the eclipse prayer should be given precedence.

However, the correct opinion - the view of the Hanbalees - is that one must pray the obligatory prayer and if there is still an eclipse, begin the eclipse prayer.

Ibn Qudaamah [may Allaah have Mercy on him] stated:

One should begin with the obligatory prayer because if the Imaam was to start with the eclipse prayer this would involve a great deal of hardship for the followers. People have attended the Masjid to pray the obligatory prayer; from them are the elderly and the weak, and the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] has ordered that the Imaam doesn’t create hardship for the followers.

So by starting with the eclipse prayer, which is extensively long prayer, this would create a great deal of hardship.

Furthermore, praying what is obligatory takes precedence over something that is recommended (the eclipse prayer is Sunnah with the majority).

Likewise, due to the length of the eclipse prayer, it is also feared that the time for the obligatory prayer may expire if precedence is given to the eclipse prayer.

[al-Mughnee (2/146)]

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen issed the following Fatwaa:

The obligatory prayer takes precedence over the eclipse prayer, because it is more important.

[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa wa ar-Rasaa’il (16/307)]

And Allaah Knows Best.