The Ruling on Relying on Astronomical Calculations for Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Question:
Another question has come to us from more than one brother: When news of a solar eclipse occurred yesterday, some of the imams proceeded to establish the prayer, but the one looking at the sun cannot see anything. Is the prayer valid for the one who prayed? And is the prayer established if the eclipse is partial or total? We ask you to clarify this, Your Eminence?

Answer:
We have heard this from the newspapers, and we have said to the people more than once, and we said to our brothers here in this mosque yesterday afternoon, that it is not established by mere news. The reports of the newspapers from the astronomers, or some of the astronomers, that the sun will be eclipsed on such a day, or at such an hour, is not sufficient, is not considered, and is not relied upon; because the calculations err and they hit the mark.
Yes, it may be known by calculation. The scholars mentioned that lunar eclipses are known by calculation, and that a good, precise calculator may determine from the stations of the moon and the stations of the sun the times in which the eclipse occurs when it descends into such a station at such a time. But they may err in the calculation, and they may make mistakes. So their statements resemble the news of the Children of Israel about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It may be true and they lie, or it may be false and they tell the truth. But such people should observe what they said. If the eclipse appears to the naked eye, if the eclipse appears clearly; we accept it, and the prayer is prescribed for us; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he said: .
As for the delusions that there is such a thing, and that there is darkness, or that one uses some of the telescopes, or binoculars, or such and such, to look with them, there is no need for this, and the eclipse is not considered by it. If the eclipse appears clearly in the sky; the prayer is prescribed for the people, otherwise it is not. And those who asked us yesterday were a large group, saying: We did not see that. And all of this is what people imagine. For when people are told that such a thing will happen; they start to imagine, and look, and act. And whoever wrote in the newspapers may have erred. There is no need for him to write it in the newspapers if he has knowledge that he took from his own mind. There is no need for him to lie to the people, and it is not befitting for him to harm the people; because if he writes to the people; the people are harmed, and perhaps some people leave their needs, thinking that he is truthful. And perhaps they look at the sun; and looking at it harms them. And in any case, he has harmed them with this news.
But if the eclipse attacks them, and they see it with their own eyes; this is more of a reason for them to hasten, and more of a reason for all of this than what he mentioned of frightening them (peace and blessings be upon him). If the people see it; it attacks them without it being said to them: that such a thing will happen. This was more of a reason for caution, and more of a reason for fear, and more of a reason for hastening, and more of a reason for doing what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) prescribed .
As for informing about it a day, or two days, or three days before, this is what weakens the resolve, and what diminishes the awe in the hearts, and diminishes the concern for the eclipse, and makes it among the ordinary matters for people, that the sun and the moon, and the like of that, occur. So what we see is that these who claim that they are calculators, we will write about this -if Allah wills- what we see is that it is not befitting to inform them of these things, and there is no need to publish it in the newspapers. Even if they claim that they want the people to prepare and be alert, there is no need for this. When it happens, the people do what is prescribed for them. Upon the Muslim is what Allah prescribed for him, and there is no need to announce this in the newspapers. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.

Question: Is it considered astrology?

Answer: No, it is not astrology, it is known by calculation, but there is no need to publish it.