The speech here shall be about the solar and lunar eclipse and what is desirable for a Muslim to say upon seeing that. Allah (Glory be to Him) subjugated for man different kinds of animals out of honor and favor in order to obey Allah, ascertain His Oneness, and to be grateful to Allah for His Blessings. Allah (Glory be to Him) subjugated also to man the heavens, the earth, the night, the daytime, the sun, the moon, and the blessings of Allah upon man are countless. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Allâh, it is He Who has subjected to you the sea, that ships may sail through it by His Command, and that you may seek of His Bounty, and that you may be thankful. * And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all as a favor and kindness from Him. Verily, in it are signs for a people who think deeply." [Surat Al Jathiyah: 12- 13].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "See you not (O Muhammad peace be upon him) that Allâh merges the night into the day (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night are added to the hours of the day), and merges the day into the night (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the day are added to the hours of the night), and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for a term appointed; and that Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do." [Surat Luqman: 29].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Allâh is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His Command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. * And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day, to be of service to you. * And He gave you of all that you asked from Him, and if you count the Blessings of Allâh, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate, who denies Allâh's Blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others besides Allâh, and by disobeying Allâh and His Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)." [Surat Abraham: 32 - 34].

Thus, the sun and the moon here are from the blessings of Allah which He granted to His Servants and made them permanent and continuous for the interests of man such as calculation of time and the interest of his body, animals, plants, and fruits. Moreover, Allah made the sun and the moon run according to a delicate and precise calculation which they cannot miss for even a twinkle of an eye. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses (exactly) calculated with measured out stages for each (for reckoning)." [Surat Ar-Rahman: 5]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. *And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old, dried, curved date stalk. *It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit." [Surat Yasin: 38 - 40].

The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah and two creatures that go and eclipse by His Command. So, if Allah wills to warn His Servants against the bad consequence of their sins, He commands them to eclipse either fully or partially to warn His Servants of their bad deeds and to remind them so that they would take a lesson and repent, then they abide by His Commands and abandon what is forbidden as Allah says: "And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)." [Surat Al Isra': 59].

This is an indication to the perfect power of Allah (Glory be to Him) who is capable of changing things, replacing matters, and disposing affairs as He wills such as changing the conditions of the sun and the moon from light to darkness, and He is capable of everything. Therefore, it was permissible for a Muslim to resort to Salah, invocations, Dhikr, seeking forgiveness, and charity upon seeing the solar and lunar eclipse.

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So, when you see the eclipse, invoke Allah, pronounce Takbir, perform Salah, give in charity." [Sahih Al Bukhari No. (1544) and Sahih Muslim No. (901)].

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