The Significant of Lunar Eclipse in Islam

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The above verse shows that Allah has created the sun and the moon for the benefit of man and all other living things. The verse also shows that every movement of the sun and the moon have been determined by Allah even to the calculation of years and time been provided by Him for man. Allah wants his creation to observe and study by man because from the sun and the moon man will find the truth the existence of Allah.

Every Muslims believed that Allah is the Great Administrator of the universe, the movement of the universe, the orbiting of earth, moon, sun and others which some still can’t be explained by science are under the authority of Allah. Muslim believed the moon and sun have been set and to follow the scheduled that Allah has organized. The changes from night to daylight and from daylight to night are by the Kudrat and Iradat of Allah. Which all of this have its own wisdom and purpose for mankind to look and think upon.

In the Holy Quran from Surah Al Fusilat:”And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah , who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.” (41:37) Translated by Sahih International.

It is clear the verse show the greatness of Allah, so no point of idolizing the sun or the moon cause those two are mere creation like man himself. The right to be praised and worshiped is only Allah Almighty because He is the Great Creator.

Lunar eclipse is not a sign of anything superstitious like in the olden days where in many cultures it was seen as bad omen. In Islam the eclipse occurred on the mandatory nature of Allah and His desire to rule over all things which cannot be stop by any force whatsoever in the world. Till this day no scientist could stop lunar eclipsed from happening. The only thing that a man can do is to admire the majestic of Allah creation.

In the Arab culture before the coming of Islam they believe an eclipsed is a sign the death or birth of a person. Therefore Prophet Muhammad in his hadith said,”The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someones death or life but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so pray whenever you see them.” (Narrated by Abu Masud)

The prayer during eclipsed is call Kusyuf prayer. Whereby Muslim been instructed the prayer every time an eclipsed of the sun or moon occurred. The prayer is an indication of our acknowledgement of the Greatness of Allah Almighty as the sustainer and the creator of the universe. Furthermore it is a sign of man feeling of fear if the hour of ending is nearing i.e. dooms day.

In Holy Quran “He asks, “When is the Day of Resurrection?”, So when vision is dazzled, And the moon darkens, And the sun and the moon are joined,” (Al Qiyamah : 6-9)

In that particular verses man been told of the sign the coming the Resurrection when moon and become one or fold together and the world become dark. However even the prophet didn’t know the actual day of the last hour for every living thing and the universe because only Allah knows. Therefore Muslim are instructed to perform prayer and du’a for the well being of mankind and acknowledgement of our fear to Allah promised the coming of the end of time. Nobody will know exactly the coming of dooms day but Allah has given the sign for us to make ourselves prepared for the worst.

Yes man can predict the coming of eclipse but man can never predict the day of Resurrection but Allah already gave the which is the sudden darkness before the end of time.

The current situations each time an eclipsed occur shown many Muslim forgot the advice that Prophet Muhammad given that is to perform Kusyuf prayer. We are running out into the open with all the modern gadget to marvel at the eclipsed. Even the simple takbir we forgot to do as a sign of our acknowledgement for the existence of Allah and our fear of the day of Resurrection as prescribed in Surah Al-Qiyamah.

The scientific explanation as natural occurrence have caused many Muslim fail to remind themselves that the sign of the day of Resurrection is the sudden darkness when the sun and moon become one. Why not we perform the prayer and if the day really do occurred we wouldn’t be said of neglecting in doing our duty. If nothing happen we have nothing to lose but still we will be rewarded by Allah for performing the prayer. Muslim must return to the path of the great Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) because time and time again every single warning Allah and the Prophet had given been proven true.

Fear of Allah and the day of Resurrection is the sign of a Muslim that adhered to the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad, as what is stated in this hadith: “The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone but Allah frightens His devotees with them.” (Narrated by Abu Bakar)

Let us appreciate and realize the greatness of Allah in governing the universe. Apart from the information provided by experts on astronomy, it is also a duty for every Muslim to correct his belief and faith. Muslim must affirm that Allah is Almighty and Wise in organizing and managing the heavens and the earth and all its contents.

Maybe its time for every Muslim to ask himself or herself with this question during this coming Lunar eclipsed on 16th June 2011: Do I fear of Allah and the day of Resurrection?