Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
On your website, in the library section, in the articles section, there is an article by Shaykh Abdal-Hakim Murad, entitled: “Understanding the Four Madhhabs: The problem with anti-madhhabism”. <<http://www.sunnipath.com/Resources/PrintMedia/Articles/AR00000164.aspx>> I would be very grateful if you would be able to clear up one of the points that it mentions. It mentions the proper way to perform a solar eclipse prayer, yet this way of performing it is different than the one mentioned in the Reliance of the Traveller, in section f20, (f20.4). Shaykh
Abdal-Hakim Murad writes: “… solar eclipse prayer (salat al-kusuf), which specify different numbers of bowings and prostrations. The ulama, having investigated the reports meticulously, and having been unable to resolve the contradiction by any of the mechanisms outlined above, have applied analogical reasoning by concluding that since the prayer in question is still called salaat, then the usual form of salaat should be followed, namely, one bowing and two prostrations. The other hadiths are to be abandoned.”
Yet, in the section f20 on the eclipse prayer, (which includes both the eclipse of the sun and the moon — by the definition provided,) at f20.4, it is written: ” Description of the Eclipse Prayer f20.4 The eclipse prayer consists of two raka’as. The minimum is: (a) to open with “Allahu akbar”; (b) to recite the Fatiha; (c) to bow; (d) to straighten up; (e) to recite the Fatiha again; (f) to bow again; (g) to (O: straighten up and) remain motion-less a moment; (h) and to prostrate, then sit up, and then prostrate again. This is one raka’a, comprising standing twice, reciting (O: the Fatiha) twice, and bowing twice. One then prays the second raka’a like the first. It is not permissible to lengthen the amount of time one stands or bows merely because the eclipse has not yet passed, or to shorten the raka’as to less (O: than the above way after having intended it) because the eclipse has passed.”
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Imam Nawawi writes in his commentary on Sahih Muslim,
[Area of Scholarly Agreement]
There is scholarly consensus that [performing the eclipse prayer] is recommended. The position of Malik, Shafi`i, Ahmad, and the vast majority of scholars is that it is recommended to pray it in a group. The scholars of Iraq [hold that it is recommended to perform it] individually. The proofs of the majority are the rigorously authenticated (sahih) hadiths in Muslim and other hadith compilations.
[Area of Scholarly Difference]
The scholars differ regarding how it should be performed. The most well-known position of Shafi`i is that it consists of two rak`as, each rak`ah comprising two standings, two Quran recitals, and two bowings, although the prostrations are only two just as in other kinds of prayers. This is regardless of whether the eclipse lasts a long time or not. This is also the position of Malik, Layth, Ahmad, Abu Thawr, and the majority of the scholars of Hijaz and others.
The scholars of Kufa [i.e., the Hanafis] say that the eclipse prayer consists of two rak`as just like all other supererogatory prayers, based on the immediate purport of the hadith related by Jabir b. Samurah and Abu Bakrah, which says that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) simply prayed two rak`as.
The proof of the scholarly majority is the hadith of `Ai’sha related via `Urwa and `Amra, and the hadiths of Jabir, Ibn `Abbas, and Ibn `Amr b. al-`As, which all say that it consists of two rak`as, each rak`a comprising two bowings and two prostrations. Ibn `Abd al-Barr said, “This is the most authentic (sahih) narration on the topic [of the eclipse prayer] and all other conflicting narrations are defective and weak.” The scholarly majority interprets the hadith of Ibn Samura as being unqualified whose meaning is explained by these hadiths.
Muslim mentions a narration from `A’isha, one from Ibn `Abbas, and one from Jabir that mentions that the eclipse prayer consists of two rak`as, each of which consists of three bowings. There is also a narration from Ibn `Abbas and another from `Ali that says that it consists of four bowings in each rak`a. The scholars of hadith (huffaz) say that the first group of narrations [i.e., those that mention two bowings in each rak`a] are more authentic, and their narrators have a better memory and relate hadiths with superior precision. (Nawawi, al-Minhaj bi Sharh Sahih Muslim b. Hajjaj (Dar al-Ma`rifa), 3.438)
In other words, the position mentioned in the article that you cite is the position of the Hanafis. Scholars of other schools were able to resolve the apparent contradiction between the hadiths by judging some hadiths to be more authentic than others and giving precedence to these hadiths.
And Allah Most High knows best.
Hamza.