Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Today's Friday sermon was about the phenomena of solar and lunar eclipses and their historical significance as regards the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

A solar eclipse took place in the UK today and also in some other countries. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) instructed to particularly pray, engage in istaghfar, give alms and offer Salat during eclipse. Today special Salat known as Salatul Kusoof [Kusoof is solar eclipse] was offered by the Jama'at in areas of solar eclipse in accordance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Ahadith tell us that solar and lunar eclipses are special signs of God and according to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) they were a great sign of the advent of the Promised Messiah. And indeed eclipses of the sun and the moon were witnessed in the West as well as the East in corroboration of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which makes them very significant for the Jama'at. Today's eclipse was not a sign of the advent of the Promised Messiah but it certainly draws one's attention to the eclipse that took place during the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). It also makes it significant because it occurred on a Friday and Friday is particularly attributed to the advent of the Promised Messiah. The eclipse has also taken place in the month of March three days prior to its twenty third day; the date when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) made his claim.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gave particular significance to solar and lunar eclipses. There are Ahadith regarding an eclipse that took place in the life time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hazrat Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) related: 'I came to 'Aishah during solar eclipse and saw her Praying. I asked her what is wrong with the people that they are Praying at this hour? She gestured with her hand towards the sky and said: SubhanAllah. I asked her is there a sigh and she nodded in the affirmative. So I too stood and Prayed until I swooned and poured water on my head. After the Prayer the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) praised and glorified God and said: Just now I have seen something which I never saw before…including Paradise and Hell. It has been revealed to me that you will be put to trials in your graves… You will be asked: What do you know about this man? A believer will reply, He is Muhammad, the Prophet of God and he came to us with self-evident truth and guidance and we accepted his teaching, believed in him and followed him. The person will be told, sleep peacefully as you were surely a firm believer. On the other hand a hypocrite will reply: I do not know but I heard people saying something so I said the same.' The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also said: The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death or life but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so Pray whenever you see them.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote about the prophecy of solar and lunar eclipse: 'I am very much surprised that although sign after sign continues to appear, the Maulawis are least concerned with the truth. They do not realize that God Almighty causes them to suffer defeat in every field. How they wish that Divine support of some sort or other should appear in their favour also, but, instead of support, their failure and frustration continues to become apparent with each passing day.

For example, during the days when the almanacs were widely reporting that both the sun and the moon would be eclipsed in the coming month of Ramadan, many people had begun to think that perhaps this was the sign of the advent of the Promised Imam. This caused the Maulawis to fear lest people should incline towards me, for I was the o