Question:
Inshallah in North America, we will observe a lunar eclipse on Dec 21. The question comes in two parts: Is there any specific meaning to a lunar eclipse in Islam? Is there any specific prayer from the Sunnah to take advantage of this event?
Answer:
The congregational eclipse prayer (Salat al-Kusuf) is an emphatic sunnah of near-fard importance and ranks above tarawih and eid. People go to the mosque and the imam prays a very long prayer with two ruku`s and two readings. A Muslim should never be looking at an eclipse in any way, shape or form but should stand in awe and fear before Allah and consider his life done and his judgment at hand. May Allah grant our hearts life on the day hearts will die.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
