What is the reality of the occurrence of lunar and solar eclipses, given that some books state that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: What is the reality of the occurrence of lunar and solar eclipses, given that some books state that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun?
The Shaykh : This is a tangible reality. That is, a solar eclipse, which is the disappearance of part of the Sun’s light, or part of its body, has a tangible cause: the Moon coming between the Sun and the Earth. For this reason, a solar eclipse does not occur except at the end of the month, when the Moon can come between the Sun and the Earth.
As for a lunar eclipse, its tangible cause is the Earth coming between the Moon and the Sun. For this reason, it does not occur except when the Moon and the Sun are directly opposite each other, which is on the nights of the full moon. Therefore, a solar eclipse cannot occur in the middle of the month or at the beginning of the month, and a lunar eclipse cannot occur at the beginning of the month or in the middle of the month. This is a known cosmic phenomenon, and even the previous scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) spoke about it, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and others. This does not contradict what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah the Exalted frightens His servants with lunar and solar eclipses, because Allah the Exalted frightens the servants with a matter that has a tangible cause, and there is no harm in that. Just as thunder and lightning have a tangible cause, and yet Allah frightens the servants with them, as He the Exalted said:[Ar-Ra'd 13:12-13] The tangible matter does not contradict the wisdom in its creation. However, expounding on this matter to people so that they think it is an ordinary thing, and so they do not be frightened by a solar or lunar eclipse, is what a person should avoid. One should not speak of it among the common people, because the common person’s heart becomes narrow when trying to combine the religious cause and the tangible cause. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh Muhammad.
The Shaykh : This is a tangible reality. That is, a solar eclipse, which is the disappearance of part of the Sun’s light, or part of its body, has a tangible cause: the Moon coming between the Sun and the Earth. For this reason, a solar eclipse does not occur except at the end of the month, when the Moon can come between the Sun and the Earth.
As for a lunar eclipse, its tangible cause is the Earth coming between the Moon and the Sun. For this reason, it does not occur except when the Moon and the Sun are directly opposite each other, which is on the nights of the full moon. Therefore, a solar eclipse cannot occur in the middle of the month or at the beginning of the month, and a lunar eclipse cannot occur at the beginning of the month or in the middle of the month. This is a known cosmic phenomenon, and even the previous scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) spoke about it, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and others. This does not contradict what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah the Exalted frightens His servants with lunar and solar eclipses, because Allah the Exalted frightens the servants with a matter that has a tangible cause, and there is no harm in that. Just as thunder and lightning have a tangible cause, and yet Allah frightens the servants with them, as He the Exalted said:
(12) It is He who shows you lightening, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds. (13) And the thunder exalts [Allah] with praise of Him - and the angels [as well] from fear of Him - and He sends thunderbolts and strikes therewith whom He wills
هُوَ الَّذي يُريكُمُ البَرقَ خَوفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحابَ الثِّقالَ * وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعدُ بِحَمدِهِ وَالمَلائِكَةُ مِن خيفَتِهِ وَيُرسِلُ الصَّواعِقَ فَيُصيبُ بِها مَن يَشاءُThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh Muhammad.