Rulings on Lunar and Solar Eclipses and Their Being Two of the Signs of Allah

The questioner:
We begin this session, O Shaykh, with a question from one of the brothers. He says: What are the most prominent rulings related to lunar and solar eclipses, since some people are ignorant of these rulings, especially those who abandon this prayer? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. of that, so pray and call upon Allah until it is cleared from you." In the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they believed that an eclipse occurred only upon the death of a great person or the birth of a great person. It so happened that the sun was eclipsed in Madinah during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day his son Ibrahim died. The people said, "The sun was eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim." At that, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out this error and said: "The sun and the moon do not eclipse for the death of anyone or for the life of anyone; rather, they are two of the signs of Allah, by which Allah frightens His servants." So he (peace and blessings be upon him) invalidated this belief of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.
And he clarified that this solar eclipse and this lunar eclipse are a sign of the signs of Allah, and that it is a warning, as He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: The solar and lunar eclipses occur for the sun and the moon to indicate that the sun and the moon are created beings among the creations of Allah, that Allah disposes of them, and that change and alteration occur to them. Therefore, it is not valid to worship them besides Allah. In this is a refutation of those who worship the sun and the moon. Allah, Exalted and Majestic, said: Allah, Exalted and Majestic, said: A sign. Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Majestic, said: "The sun and the moon are two signs." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And He, Exalted and Majestic, said: If it is Him you worship.
In this time, the calculators and astronomers boast that they know the occurrence of this event at its time, and they think that it is an astronomical matter with no relation to the warning from Allah. They are ignorant that Allah, Exalted is He, is able to change the custom and to change the astronomical state. And that the Hour may stand at that time. Indeed, when the sun was eclipsed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out in haste, dragging his cloak, fearing that the Hour had come. He led the people in the prayer of the eclipse and reminded them and admonished them after the prayer. The fact that it is known by calculation does not prevent Allah, Exalted is He, from warning His servants with it, because the entire matter is in the hand of Allah, Exalted and Majestic, and He is able to change and to cause an event to occur at that time. And the light of the sun and the moon may go away and not return.

The presenter:
Allah is the Greatest.

The Shaykh:
Who will restore it?

The presenter:
Allah, Exalted is He.

The Shaykh:
Except He who created it, Exalted and Majestic is He, it is He who restores the light to the sun and the moon after their light is removed by the eclipse. And if He had willed, He would not have restored it, and the people would have remained in darkness.

The presenter:
Allah is the Greatest.

The Shaykh:
And if He had willed, He would have made this occur at the standing of the Hour, for none knows the time of the standing of the Hour except Allah, Exalted and Majestic. So it is obligatory that the Muslims fear, and that the Muslims be cautious and repent to Allah, Exalted and Majestic. This is what is obligatory upon the Muslim. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,