The Correct Manner of Performing Ṣalāt al-Kusūf (Eclipse Prayer) [Forwarded]

When the sun or the moon is eclipsed, the Sunnah is to rush to the prayer, turning to Allah in awe and humility. The prayer of al-Kusūf is distinct in its form, longer in its standing, recitation, bowing, and prostration, as authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Its description is as follows: 1. The worshipper begins with the takbīrat al-iḥrām (opening takbīr), then recites the opening supplication. 2. He seeks refuge in Allah from Shayṭān, recites Bismillāh al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm, then recites al-Fātiḥah followed by a long sūrah, reciting aloud. Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ recited a portion “like Sūrah al-Baqarah.” (al-Bukhārī 1052, Muslim 907). 3. After completing the recitation, he says the takbīr and bows a lengthy bowing (rukūʿ), prolonging the supplications of the bowing. 4. He then rises, saying: Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah and, upon standing upright, says: Rabbanā wa laka al-ḥamd. He prolongs this standing in proportion to the rukūʿ. 5. He then begins a second recitation: al-Fātiḥah followed by another long sūrah, shorter than the first. ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I estimated his recitation and found that he recited Sūrah Āl ʿImrān.” (Abū Dāwūd 1187, authenticated by al-Albānī in Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1/325). 6. He bows a second rukūʿ, also long but shorter than the first. 7. He rises once again, saying: Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah, Rabbanā wa laka al-ḥamd. 8. He then prostrates, making a long sujūd equal in length to the rukūʿ, then sits between the two prostrations, prolonging the sitting like the sujūd. 9. He performs a second sujūd, long but shorter than the first. 10. This completes the first rakʿah. 11. He then stands for the second rakʿah and prays it in the same manner as the first: two recitations, two bowings, and two prostrations. However, every recitation, bowing, standing, and prostration is shorter than the corresponding act in the first rakʿah, in accordance with the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. 12. Finally, he sits for the tashahhud, sends ṣalāt upon the Prophet ﷺ, then concludes the prayer with two taslīms. This is the complete description of Ṣalāt al-Kusūf as authentically narrated from ʿĀ’ishah and Jābir (may Allah be pleased with them both), who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the eclipse in detail (al-Bukhārī 1044, 1047, 1050, 1056; Muslim 901, 904). 13. It is recommended for the imam to deliver a sermon after the eclipse prayer, reminding the believers of the greatness of Allah, the smallness of His creation, and the urgent need to turn back to Him in repentance and remembrance.