Salaamun Alaikum,
A total solar eclipse is expected to occur in the Montreal area Saturday afternoon starting at 2:14 PM. The eclipse will be occurring approximately as follows:
Begins: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Maximum:Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:27 pm 1.002 Magnitude
Ends: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 4:36 pm
Duration:2 hours, 22 minutes
Totality: 1 minute, 27 seconds
According to the opinion of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid al-Sistani (Ruling 1470), Ṣalāt al-āyāt becomes obligatory when the solar eclipse occurs, even the eclipse is partial and even if one is not frightened by it.
The time for performing ṣalāt al-āyāt for a solar or lunar eclipse commences from the moment the eclipse begins, and it continues until the sun or the moon goes back to its normal state (although it is better not to delay the prayer until the eclipse starts to reverse). However, completing ṣalāt al-āyāt can be delayed until after the eclipse is over.
Method to perform Salaat-ul-Ayaat
Salatul Ayaat consists of two rakats, each with 5 rukus, and can be recited in the following ways:
Normal Method:
- Niyaat/intention: two rak’at wajib qurbatan ilal-lah.
- In both rak’ats there are five rukus:
After al-Hamd and another surah, do ruku.
Then get up and repeat two surahs and go to ruku.
Do this five times, and then go to the sajdah.
Do the 2nd rak’at in the same way & end with the tashahhud and salam.
Shorter Method:
- Niyaat/intention: two rak’at wajib qurbatan ilal-lah.
- In both rak’ats there are five rukus:
After al-Hamd, recite another surah in such a way that you break it down for five rukus. For example:
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim;
Qul huwal-lahu Ahad + ruku.
Allahus Samad + ruku.
Lam yalid + ruku.
Wa lam yulad + ruku.
Wa lam yakun lahu kufwan ahad + ruku.
Then go to sajdah.
Repeat the second rak’at in the same way.
Wassalam.