Question:

Assalamualaykoum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

As you might be aware about this http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/JOVtsY7mRc4/maxresdefault.jpg the blood moons that fall on Jewish holidays and some say that they signify the end of times, something only Allah (swt) knows about, are there any significance to blood moons in Islam?

jazakallahu kairan

Answer:

786

Wa `alaykum as-Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

The use of the term “blood moon” arises out of confusion. American folklore has applied this designation to a full moon in Autumn, following to some degree ancient Germanic custom, without any reference to the phenomenon of an eclipse. The term has also become popular in cinematic portrayals of witchcraft. Your question concerns its meaning in megachurch Christianity, in which the term is conflated with apocalyptic imagery from the Bible; this innovation has suddenly and strangely become pervasive.

Despite the invention of this context for the term, the movements of the celestial bodies are among the “signs on the horizons,” and in classical Islamic civilization the science of these movements is under the patronage of Sayyidina `Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah ennoble his face. It must be acknowledged that any total lunar eclipse presents a reddish appearance. However, the recent eclipse has other unfortunate associations, for example the proximity and brightness of the planet Mars (al-ahmar, “the Red”), and its occurrence on the night before Tuesday, the “Day of Blood” and, obviously, of Mars. On the occasion of a previous lunar eclipse, the Sultan of Saints Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani – may Allah sanctify his secret – shared his authentic understanding:

Fifty years or sixty years ago, I was in Madina al-Munawwara, àla saqinha afdalu salat wa tamu al-taslim Hazreti Muhammad (sas). At that time in Rajab, the holy month of Allah, there was a lunar eclipse, Subhana-Allah! And this year also (1432) a lunar eclipse took place in Rajab al-Murajjab, Allahu Akbar! I was in seclusion in Madina al-Munawwara àla saqinha afdalu salat wa afdalu al taslim. I could hear from the minarets the Mua’zzins were asking forgiveness from Allah Almighty. They were not using these speakers, electric microphones, or recordings like nowadays. It was their real voice, their real voices saying [very slowly and solemnly], “Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah“. This was after the Kusuf prayer in the Minarets until the eclipse would be clear from the moon, from the full moon. Continuously until the eclipse cleared, the Mua’zzinun was asking forgiveness from Allah. This was ordered by the Efendi or Mufti at that time. “Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah,” because this was a sign. It was not good tidings.

The lunar eclipse is not good news. It is a sign of the Lord’s Anger. Allah (awj) warns His servants, “Oh My servants, beware. Oh My servants, beware. Beware. Your situations, your actions, your manners, and your way of living are not in accordance with My Shariat which I sent from Heavens to you as a warning to wake you up.” This moon eclipse happened to wake you up. Therefore, ask forgiveness from Allah! This is an order from Allah. So ask forgiveness from Allah. Astaghfirullah! Astaghfirullah! “Oh My servants, ask forgiveness from Me (astaghfiruni).”

This notion of “blood moons” has become yet another expression of modern superstition, which is perhaps not surprising, given modern science’s incapacity to understand the meaning of “signs.” Of course, specific eclipses do figure in the Islamic reckoning of the “end of times;” and so, if we are fortunate enough to weather an eclipse, may that good fortune not contribute to our arrogance and disobedience!

Mahmoud Shelton