A Cosmic Religion

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Friday is regarded as the most important day in a week where every able Muslim men would get together in a gathering for a prayer that would only be done once in a week. The Friday prayer that substitute the Zohor prayer which is done on a daily basis.

But last Friday, bear in mind that night precede the day in Muslims calculation of day and night, was a very special one. Muslims gathered twice in this great day. It is the day of the annular solar eclipse, which would only repeat itself somewhere in 2016. So Muslims gathered for the second time, but unlike the Friday prayer which saw a sermon before the prayer, this prayer is followed by a sermon and Muslims bowed twice in a rakaat or a section of a prayer and read Al Fatihah twice in a rakaat in remembrance of Allah unlike in any other usual prayer. And women joined the men this time. Friday prayer is only compulsory for men. The eclipse prayer is only on a voluntarily basis. Which means if a Muslim didn't perform it, it won't be a sin. If he did, he would be among those who seek forgiveness and closeness from his Lord.

It is a day of remembrance of the will of Allah. And to reaffirm the faith that even the sun got stop from time to time in reaching the earth, what more a merely limited human being.

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Articles/science/islam_and_the_solar_eclipse.htm
Islam and the Solar Eclipse

"The Sun and the Moon are two of the Signs (Ayat) of Allah: they do not darken for the death or birth of any person, but Allah strikes fear into His servants by means of them. So when you see them darken, remember and mention Allah, declare His Greatness, offer prayer, give in charity, and supplicate to Him and seek His forgiveness."

These words were said by the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s, when a solar eclipse took place on the very day that his infant son Ibrahim passed away: 29th Shawwal 10 H / 27th January 632 C.E. A false prophet would undoubtedly have claimed that such a magnificent celestial event was a sign of heavenly mourning for the loss of his loved one, but not the final Messenger of God, who led the community of Muslims in prayer for as long as the eclipse lasted, then admonished them regarding their reckoning with their Lord on the Day of Judgment.

Islam and the Solar Eclipse

Fussilat ("They are Expounded")
With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

[41:30]
Surely, those who have declared: “Our Lord is Allah”, then remained steadfast, on them the angels will descend, saying, “Do not fear, and do not grieve; and be happy with the good news of the Jannah (Paradise) that you had been promised.

[41:31]
We have been your friends in the worldly life, and (will remain as such) in the Hereafter. And for you here is whatever your souls desire, and for you here is whatever you call for

[41:32]
- a gift of welcome from the Most-forgiving, the Very-Merciful”.

[41:33]
Who can be better in words than the one who calls towards Allah, and acts righteously and says, “I am one of those who submit themselves (to Allah)”?

[41:34]
Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the one you had mutual enmity with him will turn as if he were a close friend.

[41:35]
And no one is blessed with this (attitude) but those who observe patience, and no one is blessed with this (attitude) but a man of great luck.

[41:36]
And should a stroke from ShaiTān (Satan) strike you, seek refuge with Allah. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

[41:37]
Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate yourselves to the sun, or to the moon. And prostrate yourselves to Allah who has created them, if it is Him whom you worship.

Alhamdulillah. Thank you Allah for giving me the opportunity to perform my eclipse prayer for I am not sure if I would be able to do it again in the near future. Alhamdulillah.