The Ruling on Acting on the Statements of Astronomers Regarding Solar and Lunar Eclipses
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Question:
Your Eminence! Regarding the predictions of the calculators and their reporting of the times of solar and lunar eclipses, is it permissible to act on them, and what is the ruling on that?
Answer:
The reports of the calculators and astronomers regarding the eclipse of the sun and the moon, that the moon will be eclipsed on such-and-such a date, and the sun will be eclipsed on such-and-such a date, may be true, and they may be wrong, just as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and others said; they may be wrong and they may be right. However, one does not act on their statements unless we witness the eclipse with our own eyes; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And in the other wording: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1483Hasan (Darussalam).
We are commanded to turn to prayer, remembrance, and supplication upon witnessing it, when we see the solar or lunar eclipse. As for the reports of the astronomers and calculators that the sun will be eclipsed on such-and-such a day, or on such-and-such a morning, or the moon on such-and-such a night, this is not acted upon unless it is seen, if it occurs. If the people see it, they pray and act according to what Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), has prescribed.
Likewise, if it is said: it was eclipsed in America, or in England, or in Egypt, we do not act on that. But the people in the place where it was eclipsed act on it; if they witnessed it in Egypt, it is prescribed for them to pray there. And if they witnessed the eclipse in London, it is prescribed for them to pray there. And if the eclipse occurred in their location in America, it is prescribed for them to pray. And so on. As for the country where there is no eclipse, but they are informed that it occurred in America, or in such-and-such a place, it is not prescribed for them.
Likewise, the statement of the calculators that the moon will be eclipsed on the night of the fourteenth at such-and-such an hour, or on the night of the fifteenth at such-and-such an hour, or that the sun will be eclipsed on the twenty-eighth, or the twenty-ninth, or the thirtieth; all of this is not acted upon, and it should not be acted upon, and it is not permissible; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) conditioned the ruling on witnessing it, saying:. One should be alert to this, and we ask Allah for guidance for those calculators, we ask Allah for guidance for us and for them. They have occupied themselves with things that do not concern them, do not matter to them, and from which no benefits result. O Allah, we seek Your help.
The presenter : O Allah, we seek Your help. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence, for this good and blessed guidance.
Your Eminence! Regarding the predictions of the calculators and their reporting of the times of solar and lunar eclipses, is it permissible to act on them, and what is the ruling on that?
Answer:
The reports of the calculators and astronomers regarding the eclipse of the sun and the moon, that the moon will be eclipsed on such-and-such a date, and the sun will be eclipsed on such-and-such a date, may be true, and they may be wrong, just as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and others said; they may be wrong and they may be right. However, one does not act on their statements unless we witness the eclipse with our own eyes; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Indeed, the sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse for the death of anyone, nor for his life. But Allah sends them to frighten His servants. So when you see that, pray and supplicate until it is cleared from you.
إن الشمس والقمر آيتان من آيات الله، لا يكسفان لموت أحد، ولا لحياته، ولكن الله يرسلها يخوف بها عباده، فإذا رأيتم ذلك؛ فصلوا، وادعوا حتى ينكشف ما بكمIf you see that then hasted to remember Allah (SWT) and pray.
فإذا رأيتم ذلك؛ فافزعوا إلى ذكر الله ودعائه واستغفارهWe are commanded to turn to prayer, remembrance, and supplication upon witnessing it, when we see the solar or lunar eclipse. As for the reports of the astronomers and calculators that the sun will be eclipsed on such-and-such a day, or on such-and-such a morning, or the moon on such-and-such a night, this is not acted upon unless it is seen, if it occurs. If the people see it, they pray and act according to what Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), has prescribed.
Likewise, if it is said: it was eclipsed in America, or in England, or in Egypt, we do not act on that. But the people in the place where it was eclipsed act on it; if they witnessed it in Egypt, it is prescribed for them to pray there. And if they witnessed the eclipse in London, it is prescribed for them to pray there. And if the eclipse occurred in their location in America, it is prescribed for them to pray. And so on. As for the country where there is no eclipse, but they are informed that it occurred in America, or in such-and-such a place, it is not prescribed for them.
Likewise, the statement of the calculators that the moon will be eclipsed on the night of the fourteenth at such-and-such an hour, or on the night of the fifteenth at such-and-such an hour, or that the sun will be eclipsed on the twenty-eighth, or the twenty-ninth, or the thirtieth; all of this is not acted upon, and it should not be acted upon, and it is not permissible; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) conditioned the ruling on witnessing it, saying:
If you see that
إذا رأيتم ذلكThe presenter : O Allah, we seek Your help. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence, for this good and blessed guidance.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.