Focus on du‘a, istighfar and sadaqah: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V leads Salat-ul-Kusoof in Islamabad

On Saturday 29 March 2025, a solar eclipse was witnessed in most of the Western Hemisphere. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa led the Salat-ul-Kusoof prayer and delivered a short sermon, as per the sunnah of the Holy Prophet^sa.

The prayer began at approximately 11:30 and continued until just after midday. Then, at around 12:15, Huzoor^aa delivered his sermon.

After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Huzoor^aa said that today, the Salat-ul-Kusoof was offered in congregation due to the solar eclipse which was witnessed in most European countries, America, Canada, Russia and African countries etc. It was the sunnah of the Holy Prophet^sa to pray two raka‘at nafl (voluntary prayers) on such occasions, and especially emphasised on doing istighfar and giving charity.

In ahadith we find that when the eclipse happened, the Holy Prophet^sa swiftly came out of his house, instructed for people to be gathered and led the prayer in congregation. There was no azan and the prayer was longer than usual.

Huzoor^aa presented a narration of Hazrat Aisha^ra which is as follows:

“In the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger^sa the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer, and stood up and performed a long qiyam, then bowed for a long while. He stood up again and performed a long qiyam but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first. He bowed again for a long time but shorter than the first one, then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second rak‘ah as he did in the first and then finished the prayer; by then the sun (eclipse) had cleared. He delivered the sermon and after praising and glorifying Allah he said, ‘The sun and the moon are two signs against the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see the eclipse, remember Allah and say takbir, pray and give sadaqah.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1044)

A similar narration of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas^ra was also partially quoted by Huzoor^aa. After mentioning the prayer as in the above hadith, Hazrat Abdullah^ra added:

“The people said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger^sa! We saw you taking something from your place and then we saw you retreating.’ The Prophet^sa replied, ‘I saw Paradise and stretched my hands towards a bunch (of its fruits) and had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1052)

Huzoor^aa said that many more narrations further authenticate these presented ahadith. He added that after the salat, a short sermon is also part of the sunnah.

Huzoor^aa addressed a common misconception amongst Muslims which is that the eclipse was a sign of God when the Holy Prophet’s^sa son Hazrat Ibrahim passed away. People at the time thought this too, but the Holy Prophet^sa clarified this matter which is why he said that an eclipse has  nothing to do with anyone’s death or life but rather is a sign of Allah the Almighty.

In our Jamaat, the solar eclipse has a significant importance too, as the Promised Messiah^as declared this to be a grand sign of his truthfulness. He said that the solar and lunar eclipses were signs of the Messiah and Mahdi, and these happened exactly according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet^sa in 1894 and 1895 after his claim. The Promised Messiah^as mentioned this specific sign many times in his books and gatherings. 

An extract from the book Nur-ul-Haqq was presented by Huzoor^aa:

“Then know that Allah the Almighty inspired in my heart that this solar and lunar eclipse which occurred in Ramadan” – that is, one of the signs of the advent of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, was also the eclipse of the moon and the sun, regarding which there is a lengthy hadith of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. And this was a sign that had never before appeared in support of the claim of any other claimant. So, he states, “This lunar and solar eclipse which occurred in Ramadan are two terrifying signs that have appeared to warn those who follow Satan, who have adopted injustice and excess. Thus, Allah the Almighty warns them with these two signs, and He warns every such person who follows his desires, abandons the truth, speaks falsehood, and disobeys Allah the Almighty. Hence, Allah the Almighty proclaims that if they seek forgiveness for their sins, their sins will be pardoned, and they will witness His grace and mercy. However, if they remain disobedient, then indeed, the time of punishment has come. And in this, there is also a warning for those who dispute without any right and do not fear Allah the Almighty. And there is a severe warning for that person who adopts disobedience and arrogance and does not abandon rebellion. So, fear Allah and do not spread disorder in the land. What has happened to you that you do not fear Him, whereas the warning signs have already appeared?

“And it is established from Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for the guidance of believers, stated that the sun and the moon are two of Allah the Almighty’s signs, and they are not eclipsed due to the death or life of anyone. Rather, they are two signs of Allah the Almighty. With them, Allah the Almighty warns His servants. Therefore, when you see them, engage yourself immediately in prayer. So observe how the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, warned regarding the solar and lunar eclipses. And in the hadith, there is an indication that these two signs are for the warning of sinners and that they manifest when sin has become widespread in the world, immorality has spread among the people, and impurity has greatly increased. And it was for this very purpose that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advised that at the time of an eclipse, people should perform many righteous deeds and hasten towards good works, such as offering prayers with sincerity, fasting, supplicating, weeping before Allah the Almighty, praising and remembering Him, humbling oneself before Him, standing in prayer, bowing, prostrating, repenting, turning towards Him, seeking forgiveness, expressing humility and submission, as well as, according to one’s capacity, performing acts of kindness, freeing slaves, relieving someone of their burden, caring for orphans, and displaying utmost humility before the Divine presence.

“Hence, it is as if in the observance of these acts, such as prayer, humility, and earnest supplication, lies the very wisdom that the eclipses of the sun and moon occur at a time when some calamity is about to descend, when an era of tribulation is near, and when such causes of misfortune have gathered in the heavens that are hidden from people’s eyes and are known only to Allah the Almighty. Thus, the mercy and profound wisdom of Allah the Almighty necessitate that at the time of any eclipse, He teaches people those ways that will remove the causes of the eclipse.” (That is, to remove the harmful effects of the solar eclipse and to dispel its evils.)

“Thus, He has taught all these methods through the tongue of His Prophet.” He further states, “And there is no doubt that evils are removed by virtues, and the tears of those who seek forgiveness for their sins extinguish the flames [of divine chastisement]. And whenever a servant performs a righteous deed that pleases Allah the Almighty, that righteous deed counteracts the evil for which the causes had been prepared.

“Thus, Allah the Almighty saves that practitioner from that evil (i.e., the one who performs that righteous deed), and this is the way of Allah the Almighty – that He repels calamities through supplication. And supplication and calamity can never coexist, but by the permission of Allah, supplication prevails over calamity when it issues forth from lips that turn sincerely towards Allah the Almighty. So, glad tidings be to those who supplicate! And when even a single eclipse is indicative of such calamities, then what can be said of an age in which both eclipses have occurred together? So, fear Allah the Almighty and do not be heedless.” (Nur-ul-Haqq, Part 2, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 8, pp. 227-230)

Huzoor^aa ended his sermon by highlighting that we should focus especially on supplications and charity. It should not just be a mere spectacle where we view the eclipse with special glasses, but rather should take heed and increase in istighfar and seek Allah’s mercy. This sign has occurred again in the month of Ramadan on the days that the Holy Prophet^sa had specified and we should try our best to fulfil the mission of the Promised Messiah^as in spreading his message to the world. 

May Allah enable us all to do so and act on these words. Amin.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)