The Prayer for Eclipses, Earthquakes, Winds, and Oppression and Their Causes

قَالَ سَيِّدُ الْعَابِدِينَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي قَدَّرَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[2] لِلنَّاسِ مِمَّا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ الْبَحْرَ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَدْ قَدَّرَ مِنْهَا مَجَارِيَ الشَّمْسِ وَ الْقَمَرِ وَ النُّجُومِ وَ قَدَّرَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ عَلَى الْفَلَكِ ثُمَّ وَكَّلَ بِالْفَلَكِ مَلَكاً مَعَ

Hadith.1506 - Imam Zain al-Abidin Ali ibn al-Hussein (as) said: "Among the signs that Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, has decreed for people and that they are in need of is the sea which Allah (swt) created between the sky and the earth." Imam (as) continued, "Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has arrange

وَ قَدْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌[2] إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْرِيَانِ بِتَقْدِيرِهِ وَ يَنْتَهِيَانِ إِلَى أَمْرِهِ‌[3] وَ لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَ لَا لِحَيَاةِ أَحَدٍ فَإِذَا انْكَسَفَ أَحَدُهُمَا فَبَادِرُوا إِلَى مَسَاجِدِكُمْ.

Hadith.1507 - The Prophet (sw) said: "Indeed, the sun and the moon are two signs from among the signs of Allah (swt). They move according to His decree and stop according to His command. They do not eclipse due to the death or life of anyone. So, when one of them eclipses, hasten to your mosques."

وَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع- فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ حَتَّى كَانَ‌ الرَّجُلُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ قَدِ ابْتَلَّتْ قَدَمُهُ مِنْ عَرَقِهِ‌[1].

Hadith.1508 - The sun was eclipsed during the time of Amir al-Mu'minin (as), and he led the people in prayer until a man could see another man whose feet were soaked with sweat.

الصَّادِقُ ع صَلَاتُهُمَا سَوَاءٌ[2].

Hadith.1509 - Abdul-Rahman ibn Abi Abdullah asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about windstorms, darkness in the sky, and eclipses. Imam (as) replied: "The prayer for all of them is the same”.

وَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَتْ لِلْكُسُوفِ صَلَاةٌ لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يُدْرَى أَ لِرَحْمَةٍ ظَهَرَتْ أَمْ لِعَذَابٍ فَأَحَبَّ النَّبِيُّ ص أَنْ تَفْزَعَ أُمَّتُهُ إِلَى خَالِقِهَا وَ رَاحِمِهَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ لِيَصْرِفَ عَنْهُمْ شَرَّهَا وَ يَقِيَهُمْ مَكْرُوهَهَا كَمَا صَرَفَ عَنْ قَوْمِ يُونُسَ ع حِينَ تَضَرَّعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَتْ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ لِأَنَّ أ

Hadith.1510 - In the explanations attributed to al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, narrated from Imam al-Ridha (as), He said: "The prayer for the eclipse was instituted because it is one of the signs of Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, and it is not known whether it appeared as a mercy or as a punishment. Therefore, The Prophet (sw

إِنَّ ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ لَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى السَّدِّ جَاوَزَهُ فَدَخَلَ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِمَلَكٍ قَائِمٍ عَلَى جَبَلٍ طُولُهُ خَمْسُمِائَةِ ذِرَاعٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلَكُ يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ أَ مَا كَانَ خَلْفَكَ مَسْلَكٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَنَا مَلَكٌ مِنْ مَلَائِكَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ مُوَكَّلٌ بِهَذَا الْجَبَلِ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ جَبَلٍ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ عِرْقٌ

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فَأَمَرَ الْحُوتَ فَحَمَلَتْهَا فَقَالَتْ حَمَلْتُهَا[4] بِقُوَّتِي فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهَا حُوتاً قَدْرَ فِتْرٍ[5] فَدَخَلَتْ فِي مَنْخِرِهَا فَاضْطَرَبَتْ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُزَلْزِلَ أَرْضاً تَرَاءَتْ لَهَا[1] تِلْكَ الْحُوتَةُ الصَّغِيرَةُ فَزَلْزَلَتِ الْأَرْضَ فَرَقاً[2]. وَ قَدْ تَكُونُ الزَّلْ

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَمَرَ الْحُوتَ بِحَمْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَ كُلُّ بَلَدٍ مِنَ الْبُلْدَانِ عَلَى فَلْسٍ مِنْ فُلُوسِهِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُزَلْزِلَ أَرْضاً أَمَرَ الْحُوتَ أَنْ يُحَرِّكَ ذَلِكَ الْفَلْسَ فَيُحَرِّكُهُ وَ لَوْ رُفِعَ الْفَلْسُ لَانْقَلَبَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ. وَ الزَّلْزَلَةُ قَدْ تَكُونُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْوُجُوهِ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ لَيْسَتْ هَ

آيَةٌ فَقَالَ وَ مَا سَبَبُهَا قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَكَّلَ بِعُرُوقِ الْأَرْضِ مَلَكاً فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُزَلْزِلَ أَرْضاً أَوْحَى إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكِ أَنْ حَرِّكْ عِرْقَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ فَيُحَرِّكُ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكُ عِرْقَ تِلْكَ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَتَتَحَرَّكُ بِأَهْلِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فَمَا أَصْنَعُ قَالَ صَلِّ صَلَاة

Hadith.1514 - Sulaiman al-Daylami asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about earthquakes and what they are. Imam (as) said: "It is a sign." Sulaiman then asked: "What is its cause?" Imam (as) said: "Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has assigned an angel to the veins (roots) of the earth. When Allah (swt) wishes

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ شَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ كَثْرَةَ الزَّلَازِلِ فِي الْأَهْوَازِ وَ قُلْتُ تَرَى لِيَ التَّحْوِيلَ عَنْهَا فَكَتَبَ ع لَا تَتَحَوَّلُوا عَنْهَا وَ صُومُوا الْأَرْبِعَاءَ وَ الْخَمِيسَ وَ الْجُمُعَةَ وَ اغْتَسِلُوا وَ طَهِّرُوا ثِيَابَكُمْ وَ ابْرُزُوا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْفَعُ عَنْكُمْ قَالَ فَفَعَلْنَا فَسَكَنَتِ الزَّلَازِلُ.

"I wrote to Abu Ja'far (as) and complained to him about the frequent earthquakes in Ahwaz and asked him, 'Do you think I should move away from there?' He (as) wrote back, 'Do not move away from there. Fast on Wednesday, Thursday, and Jumu’ah, perform ghusl (ritual purification), purify your clothes, and go out on Jumu’

إِنَّ الصَّاعِقَةَ تُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنَ وَ الْكَافِرَ وَ لَا تُصِيبُ ذَاكِراً

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع- لِلرِّيحِ رَأْسٌ وَ جَنَاحَانِ‌[1].

Hadith.1517 - Imam Ali (as) said: "The wind has a head and wings."

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع بِالْعُرَيْضِ فَهَبَّتْ رِيحٌ شَدِيدَةٌ فَجَعَلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يُكَبِّرُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ التَّكْبِيرَ يَرُدُّ الرِّيحَ.

"I was with Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) in al-‘Urayd when a strong wind blew. Abu Ja'far (as) began to say 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah (swt) is the Greatest) repeatedly, and then said: 'Indeed, saying Takbir (Allahu Akbar) repels the wind.'"

وَ قَالَ ع‌ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رِيحاً إِلَّا رَحْمَةً أَوْ عَذَاباً فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهَا فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَ خَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ لَهُ وَ نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَ شَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ لَهُ وَ كَبِّرُوا وَ ارْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ فَإِنَّهُ يَكْسِرُهَا.

Hadith.1519 - Imam (as) said: "Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, does not send any wind except as a mercy or as a punishment. When you see it (the wind), say, 'O’ Allah (swt), we ask You for its good and the good of what it was sent for, and we seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what it was sent for.'

لَا تَسُبُّوا الرِّيَاحَ فَإِنَّهَا مَأْمُورَةٌ وَ لَا الْجِبَالَ وَ لَا السَّاعَاتِ وَ لَا الْأَيَّامَ وَ لَا اللَّيَالِيَ فَتَأْثَمُوا وَ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكُمْ[3]

وَ قَالَ ع‌ مَا خَرَجَتْ رِيحٌ قَطُّ إِلَّا بِمِكْيَالٍ‌[1] إِلَّا زَمَنَ عَادٍ فَإِنَّهَا عَتَتْ عَلَى خُزَّانِهَا فَخَرَجَتْ فِي مِثْلِ خَرْقِ الْإِبْرَةِ فَأَهْلَكَتْ قَوْمَ عَادٍ.

Hadith.1521 - Imam (as) said: "No wind ever blows except in measure, except during the time of the people of ‘Aad, for it broke loose against its keepers and came out like the eye of a needle, destroying the people of ‘Aad."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرِّيَاحِ الْأَرْبَعِ الشَّمَالِ وَ الْجَنُوبِ وَ الصَّبَا وَ الدَّبُورِ[3] وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الشَّمَالَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ الْجَنُوبَ مِنَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جُنُوداً مِنَ الرِّيحِ يُعَذِّبُ بِهَا مَنْ عَصَاهُ مُوَكَّلٌ بِكُلِّ رِيحٍ مِنْهُنَّ مَلَكٌ مُطَاعٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ قَوْماً بِعَذَابٍ

I asked Abu Ja'far (as) about the four winds—the North wind (Shamal), the South wind (Janub), the East wind (Saba), and the West wind (Dabur). I told him, "The people say that the North wind is from Paradise and the South wind is from Hell." Imam (as) said: "Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has armies from

نِعْمَ الرِّيحُ الْجَنُوبُ تَكْسِرُ الْبَرْدَ عَنِ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ تُلْقِحُ الشَّجَرَ وَ تُسِيلُ الْأَوْدِيَةَ[1]

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ الرِّيَاحُ خَمْسَةٌ مِنْهَا الْعَقِيمُ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّهَا.

Hadith.1524 - Imam Ali (as) said: "There are five types of wind, and among them is the barren wind (al-‘aqim), from whose harm we seek refuge in Allah (swt)."

وَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِذَا هَبَّتْ رِيحٌ صَفْرَاءُ أَوْ حَمْرَاءُ أَوْ سَوْدَاءُ تَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُهُ‌ وَ اصْفَرَّ لَوْنُهُ‌[1] وَ كَانَ كَالْخَائِفِ الْوَجِلِ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ قَطْرَةٌ مِنْ مَطَرٍ فَيَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ لَوْنُهُ وَ يَقُولُ جَاءَتْكُمْ بِالرَّحْمَةِ.

Hadith.1525 - When a yellow, red, or black wind would blow, the Prophet (sw) would become visibly changed—his face would turn pale, and his color would change as if he were fearful and anxious. He would remain in this state until a drop of rain fell from the sky, at which point his color would return, and he would say,

كُلُّ أَخَاوِيفِ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ ظُلْمَةٍ أَوْ رِيحٍ أَوْ فَزَعٍ فَصَلِّ لَهَا صَلَاةَ الْكُسُوفِ حَتَّى تَسْكُنَ‌[2].

Hadith.1526 - Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim reported from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that they asked him, "What do you say about these winds and darkness that occur? Should one pray because of them?" Imam (as) said: "For every fear-inducing phenomenon from the sky, be it darkness, wind, or dread, pray the pr

وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ وَ بُرَيْدُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالا إِذَا وَقَعَ الْكُسُوفُ أَوْ بَعْضُ هَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ صَلِّهَا مَا لَمْ تَتَخَوَّفْ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ وَقْتُ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَإِنْ تَخَوَّفْتَ فَابْدَأْ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ وَ اقْطَعْ مَا كُنْتَ فِيهِ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْكُسُوفِ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَارْجِعْ إِلَى حَيْثُ كُنْتَ قَطَعْتَ وَ احْتَسِبْ بِمَا

"When an eclipse or any of these celestial signs occurs, perform the prayer (Salat al-Kusuf) as long as you do not fear missing the time of an obligatory prayer. If you fear that the time of the obligatory prayer will pass, then begin with the obligatory prayer and interrupt your Salat al-Kusuf. Once you have completed

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع- إِذَا انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ الْقَمَرُ وَ أَنَا رَاكِبٌ لَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَى النُّزُولِ فَكَتَبَ ع إِلَيَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مَرْكَبِكَ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ‌[4].

Hadith.1528 - It is reported from Ali ibn al-Fadl al-Wasiti that He said: "I wrote to Imam al-Ridha (as) asking about what to do if the sun or moon eclipses while I am riding and unable to dismount. He (as) wrote back to me saying, 'Pray on your mount, whatever you are on.'".

إِنْ كَانَ الْقُرْصَانِ احْتَرَقَا كُلُّهُمَا قَضَيْتَ‌[1] وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا احْتَرَقَ بَعْضُهُمَا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ قَضَاؤُهُ‌[2].

Hadith.1529 - It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim and al-Fudhayl ibn Yasar that they said: "We asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): Should one make up the prayer for an eclipse if he becomes aware of it in the morning or evening after it has occurred? He (as) replied: 'If both discs (the sun and the moon) wer

عَشْرُ رَكَعَاتٍ وَ أَرْبَعُ سَجَدَاتٍ تَرْكَعُ خَمْساً ثُمَّ تَسْجُدُ فِي الْخَامِسَةِ ثُمَّ تَرْكَعُ خَمْساً ثُمَّ تَسْجُدُ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَرَأْتَ سُورَةً فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَرَأْتَ نِصْفَ سُورَةٍ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ سُورَةً فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ فَاقْرَأْ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَ إِنْ قَرَأْتَ نِصْفَ سُورَةٍ أَجْزَأَكَ أَنْ لَا تَقْرَأَ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا فِي

Hadith.1530 - Al-Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about the prayer for the eclipse (Salat al-Kusuf) of the sun and moon. Imam (as) said: "It consists of ten rak'ahs (units of prayer) and four prostrations (Sujood). You perform five bowings (ruku) and then prostrate (Sujood) in the fifth. Then you perf

وَ رَوَى عُمَرُ بْنُ أُذَيْنَةَ: «أَنَّ اَلْقُنُوتَ فِي اَلرَّكْعَةِ اَلثَّانِيَةِ قَبْلَ اَلرُّكُوعِ ثُمَّ فِي اَلرَّابِعَةِ ثُمَّ فِي اَلسَّادِسَةِ ثُمَّ فِي اَلثَّامِنَةِ ثُمَّ فِي اَلْعَاشِرَةِ.

Hadith.1531 - Umar ibn Udhaynah narrated: "The Qunoot (supplication) is to be recited in the second rak'ah before bowing (ruku), then in the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth rak'ahs."

ذَكَرُوا عِنْدَهُ انْكِسَافَ‌

Hadith.1532 - Hammad ibn Uthman narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that during a discussion about the eclipse of the moon and the hardship that people endure because of it, He (Imam Al-Sadiq) said: "If a part of it (the moon) has cleared, then it has cleared”.