Ruling on Announcing a Lunar or Solar Eclipse in Advance
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
ً
His Eminence the Shaykh: Some people hold that one should not announce a lunar eclipse in advance, as is currently done through newspapers and radio. Some people see that it is written in (The Congregational Prayer) so that people will turn to humility and drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?The Shaykh: You say: Some people hold that it is not appropriate to announce an eclipse in advance?The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: And some people?The questioner: What is your opinion, Your Eminence?The Shaykh: Be patient! You said: (Some people) You used "some" to indicate a part, so what is the opinion of the other part?The questioner: I heard it from one or two people.
The Shaykh: But you say: Some people. I want the other side.
The questioner: I do not know.
The Shaykh: Yes, do not say: Some people.
The questioner: Okay.
The Shaykh: In any case, what we see is: It is not appropriate to announce an eclipse before it occurs; because it removes its awe and diverts the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, you see people now, when the time of the eclipse approaches, going out to the street to look at it, to see if it has eclipsed or not, as if they are looking at the crescent of the festival. This undoubtedly removes what is in the hearts of fear and awe.
So what we see: That it is not announced. If it comes without news, it becomes more awe-inspiring.If people do not know about it except by the call: (The Congregational Prayer) has value and awe, but this is from the affliction that Muslims have been afflicted with today.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
His Eminence the Shaykh: Some people hold that one should not announce a lunar eclipse in advance, as is currently done through newspapers and radio. Some people see that it is written in (The Congregational Prayer) so that people will turn to humility and drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?The Shaykh: You say: Some people hold that it is not appropriate to announce an eclipse in advance?The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: And some people?The questioner: What is your opinion, Your Eminence?The Shaykh: Be patient! You said: (Some people) You used "some" to indicate a part, so what is the opinion of the other part?The questioner: I heard it from one or two people.
The Shaykh: But you say: Some people. I want the other side.
The questioner: I do not know.
The Shaykh: Yes, do not say: Some people.
The questioner: Okay.
The Shaykh: In any case, what we see is: It is not appropriate to announce an eclipse before it occurs; because it removes its awe and diverts the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, you see people now, when the time of the eclipse approaches, going out to the street to look at it, to see if it has eclipsed or not, as if they are looking at the crescent of the festival. This undoubtedly removes what is in the hearts of fear and awe.
So what we see: That it is not announced. If it comes without news, it becomes more awe-inspiring.If people do not know about it except by the call: (The Congregational Prayer) has value and awe, but this is from the affliction that Muslims have been afflicted with today.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.