When should Salat-ul-Kusuf begin?
Question:
"Some Imams (the ones who lead congregational Prayer) offer Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse) only when there is total eclipse and others offer it as soon as the eclipse begins; which is correct?"
Answer:
"Muslims should hasten to offer Salat-ul-Kusuf once they see the eclipse; they should not wait until there is total eclipse. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) stated:
"Verily, the sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse on account of the death or birth of anybody. So whenever you see this, pray and invoke (Allah) until it is over."[1] (Related by Muslim)
He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) also stated:
"So whenever you see them, make haste for the remembrance of Allah, invoking Him and asking Him for forgiveness."[2] (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This indicates that Salat-ul-Kusuf should be offered as soon as the eclipse begins and should not be delayed.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on clothing, no. 5785; and Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, no. 1502.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1059; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 912; and Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on eclipse, no. 1503.
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Source: www.alifta.net - Second question of Fatwa no. 18957
"Some Imams (the ones who lead congregational Prayer) offer Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse) only when there is total eclipse and others offer it as soon as the eclipse begins; which is correct?"
Answer:
"Muslims should hasten to offer Salat-ul-Kusuf once they see the eclipse; they should not wait until there is total eclipse. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) stated:
"Verily, the sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse on account of the death or birth of anybody. So whenever you see this, pray and invoke (Allah) until it is over."[1] (Related by Muslim)
He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) also stated:
"So whenever you see them, make haste for the remembrance of Allah, invoking Him and asking Him for forgiveness."[2] (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This indicates that Salat-ul-Kusuf should be offered as soon as the eclipse begins and should not be delayed.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on clothing, no. 5785; and Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, no. 1502.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 1059; Muslim, Sahih, Book on eclipse, no. 912; and Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on eclipse, no. 1503.
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Source: www.alifta.net - Second question of Fatwa no. 18957