Lunar Eclipse in Madinah and Salat-e-Khusuf — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Lunar Eclipse in Madinah and Salat-e-Khusuf.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: IX – Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur’an, Marriage of Hadrat Zainab (ra), the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites
Pages: Book pp. 404–405 (PDF pp. 428–429)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Ghazwah of Dummatul-Jandal and a New Addition to the Islamic Wars – Rabi‘ul-Awwal 5 A.H.] | Next: [Famine in Makkah and Compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) Towards the Quraish] »
Historical Account
In the very same year, during the month of Jamādiyul-Ākhir, a lunar eclipse occurred in Madīnah. The Holy Prophetsa instructed the Companions to congregate for Ṣalāt. As such, the Holy Prophetsa remained occupied in Ṣalāt along with a community until the eclipse had ended. From then onwards, a formal Ṣalāt for the lunar eclipse was instituted in Islām. On the one hand, while the Muslims were engaged in Ṣalāt, the Jews were beating their vessels on the other, etc., under the notion that someone had cast a spell upon the moon, which in their own surmise, would be dispelled by their noise.
At this instance, it would not be out of place to mention that a great distinction of Islām is that it has not only erased unnecessary superstition, but has also instituted a form of worship for every such occasion where the door to superstition may be opened, and as a result, this immediately directs
the attention of a person towards God and uproots pagan notions. Therefore, a grand wisdom in enjoining a form of worship on the occasion of an eclipse, etc., is to remind the Muslims that irrespective of the apparent instrument by which a person receives light and luminosity in the life of this world, in actuality, it is God the Exalted who is the actual source. For this reason, if an obstruction occurs in the way of this light, even though such a hindrance may be due to the general laws of nature, on this occasion, one should turn towards God. In actuality, Islām has attached divine remembrance to a person’s every movement and to every change in environment, so that a person is never neglectful of his Lord. However, this is a separate religious discussion, which a historian cannot engage himself in.
Famine in Makkah and Compassion of the Holy Prophetsa Towards the Quraish
Whilst alluding to the Ghazwah of Badrul-Mau‘id, the famine in Makkah was also mentioned. This famine still continued. The Quraish of Makkah were afflicted with great suffering due to this famine, especially those who were poor. When the Holy Prophetsa was informed of this, as an act of compassion, he sent some silver to the less fortunate of Makkah. In doing so, the Holy Prophetsa furnished practical evidence that his heart possessed a deep and immense sympathy for even his most bitter enemies; and that his only opposition was with doctrines and concepts, not with human beings.
It is ascertained from Bukhārī that on another occasion as well, the people of Makkah were afflicted by a famine. Abū Sufyān bin Ḥarb presented himself before the Holy Prophetsa on their behalf and requested him to supplicate for their deliverance from the famine on the basis of kinship and relation. This demonstrates that the people of Makkah held mixed emotions with regards to the Holy Prophetsa. They accepted his innate virtue, piety and purity, but were also bent upon expunging the teaching of the Holy Prophetsa, finding it to be at odds with their ancient way of practice and pagan concepts. Such mixed emotions are not impossible in light of principles of psychology.
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Istisqā’i, Bābu Du‘āin-Nabiyyisa Ij‘alhā ‘Alaihim Sinīna Ka-Sinī Yūsuf, Ḥadīth No. 1007]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: IX – Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur’an, Marriage of Hadrat Zainab (ra), the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites | Navigation: « Previous: [Ghazwah of Dummatul-Jandal and a New Addition to the Islamic Wars – Rabi‘ul-Awwal 5 A.H.] | Next: [Famine in Makkah and Compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) Towards the Quraish] »