congregation, reading the Fātiḥah in a loud voice, as in the Friday service (Bu. 15:1, 16).69
A prayer service of two rak‘ahs was held by the Holy Prophet during an eclipse of the sun. This eclipse occurred on the day of the death of Ibrāhīm, the Holy Prophet’s eighteen months old son. The service differed from the ordinary prayer service in that there were two qiyāms and two rukū‘s in each rak‘ah.70 There is also mention of a sermon having been delivered after the service (Bu. 16:4). In this sermon, the Holy Prophet, while enjoining charity and seeking of forgiveness from God (istighfār), referred particularly to Ibrāhīm’s death. When the people saw that the sun had darkened, they began to say among themselves that this was due to Ibrāhīm’s death. The Holy Prophet rebutted this idea in his sermon, saying that “the sun and the moon do not suffer eclipse for anyone’s death or life” (Bu. 16:13). This was the only occasion of an eclipse on which a service was held by the Holy Prophet (ZM. I, p. 129).
69 In some ḥadīth it is stated that before prayer, the Holy Prophet turned over his riḍā (a loose wrapper worn over the shoulders). It seems, however, to have been only accidental, or it may have been simply a precautionary measure lest the riḍā should fall down in the raising up of the hands (FB. II, pp. 144, 415).
70 After the first qiyām there was a rukū‘ as in the ordinary service, though of longer duration, and then a qiyām followed again in which a portion of the Holy Qur’ān was recited; this was followed by a second rukū‘, after rising from which the sajdah was performed as in the ordinary service; the recitation being in a loud voice, as in Friday and ‘Īd prayers (Bu. 18:2, 19).