What is Salat ul Khasoof?

Answer 1

Salat ul Kusoof (Pray of Eclipse)

Eclipses are signs from Allaah by means of which Allaah makes His slaves afraid. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)" [al-Israa' 17:39]

During the Jaahiliyyah, people used to believe that eclipses happened to mark the birth or death of a great person, but the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) declared this belief to be false and explained the divine wisdom behind the occurrence of eclipses:

Imaam al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated that Ibn Mas'ood al-Ansaari said: "the sun was eclipsed the day Ibraaheem the son of the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, and the people said, 'The sun is eclipsed because of the death of Ibraaheem.' The Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 'The sun and the moon are two signs from Allaah, and they do not become eclipsed for the death or the birth of anyone. If you see that, hasten to remember Allaah and to pray.'"

The time for Salaat al-Kusoof lasts from the beginning of the eclipse until it is over, because the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When you see that, then pray." (Agreed upon). According to another hadeeth, "If you see anything of that, then pray until it is over." (Reported by Muslim).

How is Salatul Khusuf performed

1. Before offering the Salah, one must ensure the taharah, purity of the body, the clothes and the place.

2. Make Wodhu

3. Facing the Qiblah

4. The person who offers it pronounces the Takbiratul-Ihram

5. Recites the Surat-ul-Fatihah and then a Surah.

6. He then performs a Rokou.

7. He rises from the Rokou and again recites a portion of the Holy Qur'an.

8. This is followed by the second Rokou.

9. After rising from the second Rokou, he performs two Sajdahs.

10. He then performs the second Rakah with two Rokous as done before.

11. He them sits for the Tashahhud and ends the Salah with the Taslim.

Salaat al-Kusoof should not be done once the eclipse is over, because the time has gone. If an eclipse ends before one knows about it, one does not have to pray, because the reason for this prayer is no longer there.