Short answer
In the Hanafi school the solar eclipse prayer is two rakats in congregation, like a normal nafl prayer with one ruku in each rakah, but with long recitation, followed by du'a until the eclipse clears. For a lunar eclipse you pray two rakats or more individually. The other three schools pray it with two rukus in each rakah.
Salat al-kusuf is sunnah. It is two rakats led by the imam of Jummah or his deputy, with no adhan, iqamah or khutbah, each rakah with a single ruku, and with long recitation that Abu Hanifa held should be silent. A lunar eclipse (khusuf) is prayed individually, at home or in the masjid, without a congregation.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Two rakats, each with two standings, two recitations and two rukus, in congregation for both solar and lunar eclipses, followed by two khutbahs.
- Maliki
- The solar eclipse prayer is two rakats with two rukus in each, in congregation; the lunar eclipse prayer is prayed like ordinary nafl, individually.
- Hanbali
- Two rakats with two rukus in each, in congregation, for both solar and lunar eclipses.
Explanation
When the sun was eclipsed in Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ hurried to the masjid, led the people in two rakats until it cleared, and said that the sun and moon do not eclipse for anyone's death or birth; they are two of Allah's signs, so when you see an eclipse, pray and make du'a until it passes. All four schools agree the eclipse prayer is a sunnah.
Solar eclipse, the Hanafi method:
- The call "as-salatu jami'ah" may be given; there is no adhan or iqamah.
- The imam leads two rakats, each with al-Fatiha and long recitation, such as al-Baqarah and Al Imran, as people are able, with long ruku and sajdahs.
- After the salam, the imam faces the people or the qibla and makes du'a, and they say amin, until the sun is clear. There is no khutbah in the Hanafi school.
Lunar eclipse: pray two rakats or more on your own, at home or in the masjid, and keep making du'a, dhikr and istighfar until it clears. Giving charity is also recommended.
- No congregation available: pray two or four rakats on your own.
- During a makruh time: if the eclipse falls at sunrise, zawal or sunset, do not pray; make du'a and dhikr instead. See the forbidden times for prayer.
- Why two rukus in other schools: Aisha and Ibn Abbas reported two rukus in each rakah. The Hanafi school relies on reports such as Abu Bakrah's of two rakats like other prayers. Both are from the Sunnah.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 1040
Sahih... إن الشمس والقمر لا ينكسفان لموت أحد فإذا رأيتموهما فصلوا وادعوا ...
"The sun and the moon do not eclipse for anyone's death; when you see it happen, pray and make du'a until it clears from you."
The command to pray and make du'a during an eclipse; Abu Bakrah reports two rakats.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the eclipse prayer. Two rakats like nafl with one ruku each, led by the imam of Jummah, silent recitation per Abu Hanifa, no khutbah; the lunar eclipse prayer is individual.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the eclipse prayer. The Shafi'i form with two standings and two rukus in each rakah, and a khutbah after.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.