Namaz-e-Ayaat

1500. Namaz-e-Ayaat whose methods will be explained later, becomes obligatory due the following four things:

• Solar Eclipse

• Lunar Eclipse

The prayer becomes Wajib even if the moon or the sun are partially eclipsed, and even if they do not engender any fear.

• Earthquake, as an obligatory precaution, even if no one is frightened.

• Thunder and lightning, red and black cyclone and other similar celestial phenomena, which frightens most of the people; similarly for the terrestrial events like receding sea water, or falling mountains which engender fear in these circumstances, as per recommended precaution, Namaz-e-Ayaat be offered.

1501. If several events which make Namaz-e-Ayaat obligatory occur together, one should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat for each of them. For example, if solar eclipse as well as an earthquake take place, one should offer separate Namaz-e-Ayaat for each of these two occurrences.

1502. If a number of qadha Namaz-e-Ayaat is obligatory on a person, irrespective of whether they have become obligatory due to one and the same thing, like, solar eclipse occurring three times, or due to different events like solar eclipse, lunar eclipse and earthquake, it is not necessary for him while offering the qadha prayers to specify the event for which he is offering the prayer.

1503. Offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat is obligatory for the residents of only that town in which the event takes place. It is not obligatory for the people of other towns.

1504. The time of Namaz-e-Ayaat sets in as the eclipse starts, and remains till the eclipse is over. It is better, however, not to delay till the reversal of eclipse commences, though completion of Namaz-e-Ayaat may coincide with the time of reversal.

1505. If a person delays offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat till the sun or the moon starts coming out of eclipse, the niyyat of Ada (i.e. praying within time) will be in order, but if he offers the prayers after the eclipse is over, he should make a niyyat of qadha.

1506. If the duration of solar or lunar eclipse allows time for one or less Rak'at, Namaz-e-Ayaat can be offered with the niyyat of Ada. Similarly, if a person has enough duration of eclipse at his disposal, but he delays till the time to offer one Rak'at remains before the eclipse is over, he will pray with the niyyat of Ada (i.e. within time).

1507. When earthquake, thunder lightning and other similar events take place, a person should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat immediately, not allowing undue delay. But if these occurrences continue for a protracted time, praying immediately is not obligatory. If one delays when one should not, then, as per recommended precaution, Namaz-e-Ayaat should be offered without the niyyat of ada or qadha.

1508. If a person did not know about the sun or the moon eclipse, and came to know after the eclipse was over, he should give its qadha if it was a total eclipse. And if he comes to know that the eclipse was partial, qadha will not be obligatory.

1509. If certain people say that the sun or the moon has been eclipsed, but a person hearing that is not satisfied with what they say, and consequently does not offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, if it transpires later that what they said was true, the person should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat if it was a total eclipse.
And if it was a partial eclipse, it is not obligatory upon him to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat. The same rule applies if two persons who he does not consider Adil, say that the sun or the moon has been eclipsed and it transpires later that they are Adil''.

1510. If a person is satisfied with the statement of persons who know the time of solar or lunar eclipse according to scientific calculation, he should pray Namaz-e-Ayaat. Also, if they inform him that the sun or moon will be eclipsed at a particular time, and give him the duration of the eclipse, he should accept their words and act accordingly, provided he is fully satisfied with them.

1511. If a person realises that Namaz-e-Ayaat offered by him was void, he should offer it again. And if the time has passed, he should offer its qadha.

1512. If Namaz-e-Ayaat becomes obligatory on a person at the time of daily prayers, and if he has enough time at his disposal for both, he can offer any of them first. If the time for one of them is short, he should offer that prayers first, and if the time for both of them is short, he should offer the daily prayers first.

1513. If a person realises during the daily prayers that the time for Namaz-e-Ayaat is short, and if the time for daily prayers is also short, he should complete the daily prayers and then offer Namaz-e-Ayaat. But if the time for daily prayers is not short, he should break that prayers and first offer Namaz-e-Ayaat and then offer the daily prayers.

1514. If a person realises while offering Namaz-e-Ayaat, that the time for daily prayers is short, he should leave Namaz-e-Ayaat and start offering the daily prayers. After completing the daily prayers, and before performing any act which invalidates the prayers, he should start Namaz-e-Ayaat from where he left.

1515. If solar or lunar eclipse, thunder, lightning or any other similar events take place when a woman is in her menses or nifas, it will not be obligatory for her to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, nor is there any qadha upon her.