Sunday 18 March 2007

The Weeping Of Rasulullah SAW 4403

Abdullah bin Umar RA reports:

"In the time of Rasulullah SAW there once occurred a solar eclipse.

(According to the majority of the Ulama this incident took place in the tenth year after Hijrah).

Rasulullah SAW went into the masjid, commenced Solah, and stood in qiyam for so long that it was felt that he did not intend to perform the ruku'.

(In another narration it is stated that he recited Surah Al-Baqarah.)

He then performed such a long ruku' as if he did not want to come up from the Ruku'. Then in the same manner after standing up from the ruku' he stood up for such a long time as if he did not want to perform sajdah, here too he kept his mubarak head on the ground for such a long time as if he was not going to lift his mubarak head . In this manner he did the same after lifting the head and sitting in jalsa, and after the jalsa in the second sajdah. In short, in every rukun of the Solat this was done, that every rukun was so long, as if this rukun was going to be performed till the end, and there is nothing after it.

(In the same manner he performed the second raka'at.

(In the last sajdah of the second raka'at) due to intense fear - he began taking heavy breaths and crying, and began pleading to Almighty Allah:

"O Allah, it is only You that have promised that when these people make istighfaar there will be no punishment."

This saying of Rasulullah SAW refers to the Ayat that is at the end of the ninth juz:

''But Allah would not punish them while thou was with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness." (Surah Al-Anfaal: Ayat 33)


When Rasulullah SAW completed the Solah, the sun had cleared already. Rasulullah SAW delivered a sermon after this. After uttering the hamd and thanaa, he talked on this subject, that the sun and moon does not eclipse because of the death or birth of anyone, but both are from among the signs of Allah Ta'ala. (That gives His creation a warning so that they may fear Allah). When the eclipses occurs then immediately turn towards Allah (begin istighfaar and perform Solah)."


COMMENTARY

In the above narration, Rasulullah SAW teaches the Ummah on how to react and behave during the time of eclipse. This is applicable both during the time of a solar eclipse, as well as a lunar eclipse. The combination of fear and grandeur of Allah SWT should fill the hearts of all Muslims, and all should make themselves busy with the solat of such occassions. This is what Muslims should be busy with during such times.

It is so unfortunate that nowadays, when such things occur, even Muslims - due to their lack of faith and amal, instead make it an event to study science, to take out their binoculars and telescopes and make themselves more busy with other things which are not even part of their daily routine. Though we do not deny the importance of science and all, missing the solat of the eclipse intentionally / not increasing their spiritual devotions during such incidents - and instead making one busy with science and technology is a disgrace for any Muslim. Instead of using that one occasion to nurture the fear of Allah, people use that time for an experience of which they describe as the amazing features of science !

The reason for delivering this sermon was that in the days of Jahiliyah it was a general understanding that the eclipse of the sun and moon were due to the death or birth of a great personality. Coincidently it so happened that when the son of Rasulullah SAW - Ibrahim RA passed away, an eclipse took place. Therefore this nurtured the view held during the days of Jahiliyah. People began saying that the eclipse was the result of the death of Ibrahim RA.

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