Is determining the time of an eclipse part of the knowledge of the unseen?
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Question:
His other question says: Sometimes the scholars say: An eclipse will occur on such-and-such day, in such-and-such month, in such-and-such region, at such-and-such hour, and what they say comes to pass. Is this from the knowledge of the unseen or not?
May Allah guide you.
Answer:
Speaking about the time of the solar and lunar eclipses is not from the knowledge of the unseen; rather, this is determined by calculation. Many astronomers know this by observing the movement of the sun and moon in their stations. When the sun reaches a certain station, or the moon reaches one, they know by calculation that it will be eclipsed—by the permission of Allah—at that time. This is determined by calculation and is not from the knowledge of the unseen. Rather, it is a precise calculation known by astronomers and those who observe the movement of the sun and moon, and they determine it. They may make a mistake; they may err at times, and they may be correct.
Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Their reports are of the same kind as the reports of the Children of Israel; they are neither to be believed nor denied. They may say it will be eclipsed at such-and-such time, or the sun will be eclipsed at such-and-such time, and then it does not happen. Or it may happen, and they may have grasped the calculation correctly, so that it occurs.
The conclusion is: Their reports may be subject to error and mistake, so they are neither to be believed nor denied. However, one looks at what they reported. If the eclipse occurs, it is prescribed for people to remember Allah during the eclipse, seek His forgiveness, and pray the eclipse prayer, give charity, and free slaves, and remember Allah and magnify Him . This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this, saying:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1483Hasan (Darussalam), Sunan an-Nasa'i 1491Sahih (Darussalam). He commanded magnification and commanded freeing slaves; freeing slaves. All of this is a recommended practice, prescribed, and established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the reports of the calculators, they are not from the knowledge of the unseen, but they err and hit the mark. They may make a mistake, and they may be correct. Yes.
His other question says: Sometimes the scholars say: An eclipse will occur on such-and-such day, in such-and-such month, in such-and-such region, at such-and-such hour, and what they say comes to pass. Is this from the knowledge of the unseen or not?
May Allah guide you.
Answer:
Speaking about the time of the solar and lunar eclipses is not from the knowledge of the unseen; rather, this is determined by calculation. Many astronomers know this by observing the movement of the sun and moon in their stations. When the sun reaches a certain station, or the moon reaches one, they know by calculation that it will be eclipsed—by the permission of Allah—at that time. This is determined by calculation and is not from the knowledge of the unseen. Rather, it is a precise calculation known by astronomers and those who observe the movement of the sun and moon, and they determine it. They may make a mistake; they may err at times, and they may be correct.
Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Their reports are of the same kind as the reports of the Children of Israel; they are neither to be believed nor denied. They may say it will be eclipsed at such-and-such time, or the sun will be eclipsed at such-and-such time, and then it does not happen. Or it may happen, and they may have grasped the calculation correctly, so that it occurs.
The conclusion is: Their reports may be subject to error and mistake, so they are neither to be believed nor denied. However, one looks at what they reported. If the eclipse occurs, it is prescribed for people to remember Allah during the eclipse, seek His forgiveness, and pray the eclipse prayer, give charity, and free slaves, and remember Allah and magnify Him . This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this, saying:
If you see that then hasted to remember Allah (SWT) and pray.
فإذا رأيتم ذلك فافزعوا إلى ذكر الله، ودعائه، واستغفارهIf you see that, then pray
إذا رأيتم ذلك فصلوا وادعواAs for the reports of the calculators, they are not from the knowledge of the unseen, but they err and hit the mark. They may make a mistake, and they may be correct. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.