ACJU/FRL/2022/37-384
Hijri : 1444.03.27 (2022.10.24)
Beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) stated:
“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.” (Saheehul Bukhari – 1044)
The prayer during an eclipse becomes a Sunnah prayer only when the sun or moon is covered in part or full. Since the time to perform the eclipse prayer in its proper form will not be sufficient when it is confirmed that the eclipse has happened, it is allowed to perform two Sunnah Rakahs like it is done before Luhar, without performing the Eclipse prayer in its prescribed form.
Weather reports suggest that a partial Solar Eclipse could take place on Tuesday, 25.10.2022, in sha Allah. As per the said reports, although the said eclipse is expected to happen between 02:28 PM to 06:32 PM on Tuesday, Sri Lanka standard time, it could only be seen to Sri Lanka between 05:43 PM to 05:51 PM.
The weather report also states that the eclipse will be a rare sight for Sri Lanka, since the time the solar eclipse will be seen in Sri Lanka, the sun will be close to the horizon, and the sunset will be at 05:52 PM.
According to weather reports, the sun will be covered after 8 minutes of the said eclipse if it is seen in our country, and there will not be sufficient time to perform the prayer during eclipse in the prescribed manner. As such, if the solar eclipse actually happens, it is recommended that we engage ourselves in performing 2 Rak’ahs of regular Sunnah prayers, making Du’a, Isthighfar and Sadaqa.
Ash Shaikh H. Omardeen
(Acting) President – ACJU
Ash Shaikh M.T.M. Salman
(Acting) Secretary- ACJU Fatwa Division
