What is the ruling on the Lunar Eclipse Prayer in which the Imam does not say "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him)" when rising from bowing in every rak'ah, but rather says "Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)," except for the last bowing, knowing that he prayed five rak'ahs and performed two prostrations for each rak'ah?

The first opinion regarding the solar eclipse prayer (Salat al-Kusuf) and the lunar eclipse prayer (Salat al-Khusuf) is that it consists of two rak'ahs with four bowings (ruku'at) and four prostrations (sajadat). If the worshiper adds more than two bowings, there is no harm, as the matter is subject to scholarly disagreement. Furthermore, scholars have differed on what should be recited when rising from the first bowing: the majority are of the opinion that one says "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him), while others say one should say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest). All these opinions are valid, as this matter is also subject to scholarly disagreement. The prayer is valid and nothing is amiss if it is not invalidated by intentionally or unintentionally omitting this remembrance, because it is recommended (mustahabb) and not obligatory (wajib).