We are elderly men, and our imam prolongs the eclipse prayer. Is it appropriate for him to consider those behind him, or is prolonging mandatory?
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The Shaykh : Finally, I advise myself and you: to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in secret and in public, and for a person to be constantly mindful of his Lord, always remembering Allah the Exalted with his heart, his tongue, and his limbs. Let him remember the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): [Ali 'Imran 3:190-191] [Ali 'Imran 3:191], [Ali 'Imran 3:191].
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah. These are the questions of the forty-ninth session. May Allah reward our Shaykh with the best reward for us.
A questioner says: “May the Shaykh be respected, we are elderly men, and our imam prolongs the eclipse prayer. Is it appropriate for him to consider those behind him, or is prolonging mandatory?”
The Shaykh : Yes. It is mandatory to prolong the prayer in a way that distinguishes the eclipse prayer from others. If most of the people in the mosque are in this state, meaning they are weak or elderly, then their condition should be considered. However, if there is only one or two among them, the matter is broad, and praise is due to Allah. If they shorten the standing, they should sit and pray while sitting. As for abandoning the Sunnah such that the eclipse prayer is not distinguished from others by lightening it until it becomes like the other prayers, this is not permissible. It is mandatory that the eclipse prayer have its distinct characteristic over all other prayers. Yes.
(190) Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (191) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآياتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَwhile standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
قِيَاماً وَقُعُوداً وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِOur Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِAnd all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah. These are the questions of the forty-ninth session. May Allah reward our Shaykh with the best reward for us.
A questioner says: “May the Shaykh be respected, we are elderly men, and our imam prolongs the eclipse prayer. Is it appropriate for him to consider those behind him, or is prolonging mandatory?”
The Shaykh : Yes. It is mandatory to prolong the prayer in a way that distinguishes the eclipse prayer from others. If most of the people in the mosque are in this state, meaning they are weak or elderly, then their condition should be considered. However, if there is only one or two among them, the matter is broad, and praise is due to Allah. If they shorten the standing, they should sit and pray while sitting. As for abandoning the Sunnah such that the eclipse prayer is not distinguished from others by lightening it until it becomes like the other prayers, this is not permissible. It is mandatory that the eclipse prayer have its distinct characteristic over all other prayers. Yes.