In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our bellowed Prophet Muhammed s.a.a.w, his blessed
Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer on a solar eclipse) and Salat-ul-Khusuf (Prayer on a lunar eclipse) are each comprised of two Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer). Recitation in both
There are authentic Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed how Salat-ul-Kusuf can be performed. He (peace be upon him) ordered that people should be called to it by announcing as-salatu jami’ah “‘Gather for Salah”.
The most authentic reports concerning this Salah show that it consists of two Rak’ahs and that in each Rak’ah one should make two recitations and perform two Ruku’ (bowings) and two Sujud (prostrations). The person should make lengthy recitation, Ruku’ and Sujud. The first recital and Ruku’ should be longer than the second ones. Similarly, the recitation in the second Rak`ah should be shorter than the second recital in the first Rak`ah. The person should make Ruku’ in the second Rak`ah for a shorter time than the two Ruku’ in the first one. During the second Rak`ah, the person should make a second recital and Ruku’ for a shorter time than the first in the same Rak`ah.
As for the two Sujud, it is a Sunnah (recommended) to be lengthy providing that this does not cause any difficulty to the Ma’mums because this was the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) way.
Upon completing Salah, the Imam, is allowed to give a sermon and tell people that the solar and lunar eclipse are two signs of Allah (Exalted be He) by which He frightens His servants. The Muslims, upon seeing it, are prescribed to offer Salah, remember Allah (Exalted be He), make Du`a’ and Takbir, give in charity and emancipate a believing slave until the end of the eclipse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, <<Verily the sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah by which He frightens His servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death or birth of anybody>>. So when you see either of them, observe Prayer, and supplicate Allah (may He be Exalted) till it is cleared from you. Another narration reads, <<So whenever you see them, haste to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask Him for forgiveness.>> It is narrated in some Hadith that the person should give in charity and emancipate slaves.