Is it permissible to announce in newspapers and magazines that an eclipse will occur in advance?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Some people hold the view that one should not announce it in advance.
The Shaykh : What? What?
The questioner : Some people hold the view that one should not announce the lunar eclipse in advance, as is currently done in newspapers and on the radio.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They hold that it is sufficient to simply call for the congregational prayer so that the people will come with humility and draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?
The Shaykh : You say: Some people hold the view that it is not advisable to announce it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : About the eclipse beforehand.
The questioner : In advance.
The Shaykh : Now, and some people?
The questioner : I mean, he says: What is your opinion, Your Eminence?
The Shaykh : Wait, you brought up some people for the sake of partiality, the other group?
The questioner : I heard 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 : No, do not say: Some people.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : In any case, what we see is that it is not advisable to announce the eclipse before it occurs, because it removes its awe and diverts the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, you see that people now, when the time of the eclipse approaches, go out into the street to look at it, to see if it has eclipsed or not, as if they were looking at the new moon of the festival. This undoubtedly removes what is in the hearts of fear and awe. Do you understand? So what we see is that it should not be announced. If it comes without news, it becomes more awe-inspiring. If the people do not know about it except by the call to the congregational prayer, it has value and awe. But this is one of the trials that Muslims have been afflicted with today. You have heard the call of the mu'adhdhin, and with that our session ends.
And Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You. I bear witness that there is no deity but You. Peace be upon you all, and let each of us return to his work.
The Shaykh : What? What?
The questioner : Some people hold the view that one should not announce the lunar eclipse in advance, as is currently done in newspapers and on the radio.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They hold that it is sufficient to simply call for the congregational prayer so that the people will come with humility and draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?
The Shaykh : You say: Some people hold the view that it is not advisable to announce it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : About the eclipse beforehand.
The questioner : In advance.
The Shaykh : Now, and some people?
The questioner : I mean, he says: What is your opinion, Your Eminence?
The Shaykh : Wait, you brought up some people for the sake of partiality, the other group?
The questioner : I heard 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 : No, do not say: Some people.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : In any case, what we see is that it is not advisable to announce the eclipse before it occurs, because it removes its awe and diverts the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, you see that people now, when the time of the eclipse approaches, go out into the street to look at it, to see if it has eclipsed or not, as if they were looking at the new moon of the festival. This undoubtedly removes what is in the hearts of fear and awe. Do you understand? So what we see is that it should not be announced. If it comes without news, it becomes more awe-inspiring. If the people do not know about it except by the call to the congregational prayer, it has value and awe. But this is one of the trials that Muslims have been afflicted with today. You have heard the call of the mu'adhdhin, and with that our session ends.
And Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You. I bear witness that there is no deity but You. Peace be upon you all, and let each of us return to his work.