Total Lunar Eclipse to Grace Night Sky Tonight

Hawzah News Agency- Astronomers report that the total phase of the eclipse will last about 82 minutes, making it one of the longest total lunar eclipses in recent years. During this time, the Moon will take on a coppery-red hue as sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere falls on its surface.

Experts note that lunar eclipses are completely safe to observe with the naked eye, though binoculars or telescopes can provide a more detailed view.

According to the views of prominent scholars of Taqlid, one of the occasions that make the performance of the Ayat prayer obligatory is a lunar or solar eclipse. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution has provided guidance regarding the timing and method of performing this prayer.

Timing of the Ayat Prayer
The prayer should be performed from the beginning of the eclipse until it starts to clear. Observers are advised to perform the prayer promptly before the eclipse ends. If the prayer is delayed beyond this time, it may be performed with the intention of drawing closer to Allah, but it cannot be counted as a mandatory or compensatory prayer.

Methods of Performing the Ayat Prayer
There are several accepted methods:

1. First Method: After the intention and Takbir of Ihram, recite Surah Al-Hamd and a surah before each of five Rukus in the first rak’ah, then perform two prostrations. Repeat the same procedure in the second rak’ah, concluding with Tashahhud and Salam.
2. Second Method: After intention and Takbir, recite Surah Al-Hamd and a verse from a surah before each Ruku. Continue this process for five Rukus, then perform two prostrations. The second rak’ah follows the same steps. One may also recite a single verse per Ruku, reciting Surah Al-Hamd only once at the beginning of each rak’ah.
3. Third Method: Combine the first and second methods by performing one rak’ah according to one method and the second rak’ah according to the other.
4. Fourth Method: Complete a surah in the standing position before the first Ruku, continuing in subsequent Rukus. Surah Al-Hamd must be recited again if the surah continues beyond the second or third Ruku, ensuring the surah is completed before the fifth Ruku.

These instructions offer a detailed framework for performing the Ayat prayer correctly during eclipses, reflecting both traditional jurisprudence and the guidance of the Supreme Leader.