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How do you pray Salat al-Kusuf – the prayer during a solar/lunar eclipse

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim

There are varied opinions among scholars on how to pray salat al-kusuf or salat al-khusuf, which is a sunnah prayer the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed during an eclipse. 

The eclipse

  • Kusuf (كسوف): usually refers to a solar eclipse.

  • Khusuf (خسوف): usually refers to a lunar eclipse.

A solar eclipse is when a planet blocks out the sun.

A lunar eclipse happens when the earth comes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s light from reaching the moon.

Because of this alignment:

  • The earth’s shadow falls on the moon, making it appear darkened.

  • Sometimes the moon turns a reddish or coppery colour – this is called a “blood moon”, caused by sunlight being filtered and bent through the earth’s atmosphere.

  • Unlike a solar eclipse (which is only visible in a narrow path), a lunar eclipse can be seen from anywhere on the night side of the earth, making it more widely visible.

The salah

The salah is performed during the duration of the eclipse, which usually lasts a few minutes. There are two opinions on how many ruku and sujud there are.

Hanafi

1. Two rakʿahs with one rukūʿ each (Hanafi view)
•It is prayed just like any normal nafl prayer: two rakʿahs, each with one rukūʿ and two sujūd.
•The rukūʿ is lengthened, following the report that the Prophet’s ﷺ bowing during the eclipse prayer was prolonged.

Shafi’i, Hanbali and Maliki

2. Two rakʿahs with two rukūʿ in each rakʿah (Shāfiʿī, Hanbalī, many Mālikī scholars)
•Each rakʿah has:
•Opening takbīr, recitation of al-Fātiḥah and a long surah, rukūʿ (prolonged).
•Stand again, recite al-Fātiḥah and another surah, then perform a second rukūʿ.
•Rise, then go into sujūd as normal.
•This is repeated in the second rakʿah, making a total of four rukūʿ and four sujūd in two rakʿahs.
•This method is considered the most common and most authentic according to many hadith.

Variations

3. Two rakʿahs with multiple rukūʿ (reported variations)
•Some narrations mention the Prophet ﷺ performing up to three or even four rukūʿ per rakʿah.
•These are less common practices, but acknowledged by some scholars as valid based on hadith reports.
 

Shared elements in all methods

•The recitation is prolonged, especially Sūrat al-Baqarah or similar in length (or as much as one is able).
•Rukūʿ and sujūd are lengthened more than usual.
•After the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ gave a khutbah reminding people to remember Allah, make duʿā, give charity, and seek forgiveness.

As the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) ruku was so prolonged, the people behind him could not see him and thought he had done two ruku.

Seek forgiveness

For Muslims, an eclipse is a time of seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

The sun and moon are signs of Allah’s greatness:

And He is the One Who created the day and the night, the sun and the moon—each traveling in an orbit. [21:33]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that that when there was an eclipse the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed salat al-khusuf and then:

He delivered the Khutba (sermon) and after praising and glorifying Allah he said, “The sun and the moon are two signs against the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see the eclipse, remember Allah and say Takbir, pray and give Sadaqa.” [Bukhari]

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