Ruling on Salat-ul-Kusuf (prayer at the time of a solar eclipse)
Question:
"What is the ruling on Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse)? Do the two Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "So when you see them (in a state of eclipse), invoke Allah and pray until it is over"[1] and "hasten for the Salah (Prayer)"[2] prove that it is obligatory?"
Answer:
"Salat-ul-Kusuf is a stressed Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) based on the authentic Hadiths related in this regard. According to the scholars, it is not obligatory because when a man asked about Salah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) responded that he was obliged to perform the Five Obligatory Daily Salahs. The inquirer added: "Am I obliged to do anything else besides this? He (the Prophet) said: No, except that which you do voluntarily out of your own free will."[3]"
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1061; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 915; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 245.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1046; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 901; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1177; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 1263; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 87.
[3] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on faith, Chapter on the obligation of Zakah, no. 46; and Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on Salah which is one of the pillars of Islam, no. 11.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
Source: www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 13.
"What is the ruling on Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse)? Do the two Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "So when you see them (in a state of eclipse), invoke Allah and pray until it is over"[1] and "hasten for the Salah (Prayer)"[2] prove that it is obligatory?"
Answer:
"Salat-ul-Kusuf is a stressed Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) based on the authentic Hadiths related in this regard. According to the scholars, it is not obligatory because when a man asked about Salah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) responded that he was obliged to perform the Five Obligatory Daily Salahs. The inquirer added: "Am I obliged to do anything else besides this? He (the Prophet) said: No, except that which you do voluntarily out of your own free will."[3]"
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1061; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 915; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 245.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1046; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 901; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1177; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 1263; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 87.
[3] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on faith, Chapter on the obligation of Zakah, no. 46; and Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on Salah which is one of the pillars of Islam, no. 11.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
Source: www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 13.