Bayan al-Falak

Mukadimah

The creation of the universe is one of the proofs of the greatness of the Almighty Allah SWT. This includes the creation of the sun and moon which then plays an important role in the changing of night and day which ultimately benefit humans. The power and greatness of Allah SWT transcend our knowledge and covers every aspect of human life on this earth. This is explained by Allah SWT in the Quran, where He said:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤﴾

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.”

Surah al-Baqarah (164)

Every movement in this vast universe is determined by Allah SWT and everything has its own orbit. This is one of the greatness and eminence of Allah Taala which could never even be compared to the insignificant knowledge and insight of humans. This is proven through Allah SWT’s statement:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾

“And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming.”

Surah al-Anbiyya (33)

The Moon

The moon is a natural satellite of earth orbiting around it. Every planet in the solar system has its own moon that orbits around it and acts as its natural satellite. However, the moon does not project its own light but illuminates by reflecting the light from the sun.

There are several aspects and wisdom from the creation of the moon that greatly affect human life. As an example, the dates of the months in Islam is determined by the moon’s orbit around the earth. This clearly shows how greatly the moon is in our lives. This is in accordance with the statement of Allah SWT:

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ ۚ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّـهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٥﴾

“It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allah has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know,”

Surah Yunus (5)

The moon also plays an important role in determining the specific season in time, such as the time of Hajj, which is a season when Muslims perform the worship of hajj and umrah. This is in accordance with Allah SWT’s statement:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٨٩﴾

They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allah. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allah that you may succeed.”

Surah al-Baqarah (189)

Lunar Eclipse Phenomenon

The lunar eclipse will occur when the earth’s position is in between the moon and the sun. This phenomenon happens during the full moon. During a lunar eclipse, the light from the moon will turn reddish slowly when the moon passes the earth after it passes it entirely. This only happens at certain times. Allah SWT states in the Quran:

وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ

“And the moon - We have determined for it phases until it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk.”

Surah Yasin (39)

Types of Lunar Eclipse

There are several types of lunar eclipse:

Lunar Eclipse is A Testament of Allah SWT’s Might and Greatness

Eclipse is not an accidental phenomenon but is among the incidents that are considered as “Sunnatullah (law of nature)” where it has been predetermined by the will of Allah SWT. This is stated in the Quran in Surah al-Fath:

سُنَّةَ اللَّـهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّـهِ تَبْدِيلًا ﴿٢٣﴾

“[This is] the established way of Allah which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allah any change.”

Surah al-Fath (23)

The greatness of Allah SWT is immeasurable for it transcends the knowledge of humans and all creations. The countless natural phenomenon is astonishing and awe-inspiring, which are all just some of the proofs of the greatness of Allah SWT that we can understand. One of the amazing occurrences is the lunar eclipse phenomenon.

From Aisyah R.Anha, the Prophet PBUH said:

إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللهِ لَا يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهَا فَافْزَعُوا لِلصَّلَاةِ وَقَالَ أَيْضًا فَصَلُّوا حَتَّى يُفَرِّجَ اللهُ عَنْكُمْ

“The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah These do not eclipse either on the death of anyone or on his birth. So, when you see them, hasten to prayer. He also said this: Observe prayer till Allah dispels the anxiety (of this extraordinary phenomenon) from you.”

Sahih al-Bukhari (1058) and Sahih Muslim (901)

Lunar Eclipse from 2019 to 2020

The following table is the expected lunar eclipse occurrences for the year 2019 and 2020. In the year 2019, there will be a total lunar eclipse, but it will not pass through the Asian region but only in European and American regions. During an eclipse, we should ponder on the greatness of Allah SWT through His creations and perform the sanctioned worships of sunnah eclipse prayer, repent, supplicate to Allah SWT and others.

References

1. Practical Falak theory
2. Falakonline.net
3. Stellarium
4. http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/Lunar_Eclipses.html