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Should we pray the Eclipse Prayer based on the astronomers' calculations published in the newspaper, or is it required to see it with the naked eye, even if it occurs in another country?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is prescribed to command the prayer for the eclipse, and remembrance, and supplication, and seeking forgiveness upon seeing a solar or lunar eclipse, not by relying on the news of astronomers. For the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made the matter contingent upon sighting. And whoever contravenes this has erred from the Sunnah. It is not prescribed for the people of a country who did not see the eclipse to pray, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made the matter contingent upon sighting and did not indicate the permissibility of prayer based on the news of astronomers or the occurrence of the eclipse in another country.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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