Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
1500. Namaz-e-Ayaat whose methods will be explained later, becomes
obligatory due the following four things:
Solar Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse
The prayer becomes Wajib even if the moon or the sun are partially eclipsed,
and even if they do not engender any fear.
Earthquake, as an obligatory precaution, even if no one is frightened.
Thunder and lightning, red and black cyclone and other similar celestial
phenomena, which frightens most of the people; similarly for the terrestrial
events like receding sea water, or falling mountains which engender fear in
these circumstances, as per recommended precaution, Namaz-e-Ayaat be offered.
1501. If several events which make Namaz-e-Ayaat obligatory occur
together, one should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat for each of them. For example, if solar
eclipse as well as an earthquake take place, one should offer separate
Namaz-e-Ayaat for each of these two occurrences.
1502. If a number of qadha Namaz-e-Ayaat is obligatory on a person,
irrespective of whether they have become obligatory due to one and the same
thing, like, solar eclipse occurring three times, or due to different events
like solar eclipse, lunar eclipse and earthquake, it is not necessary for him
while offering the qadha prayers to specify the event for which he is offering
the prayer.
1503. Offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat is obligatory for the residents of
only that town in which the event takes place. It is not obligatory for the
people of other towns.
1504. The time of Namaz-e-Ayaat sets in as the eclipse starts, and
remains till the eclipse is over. It is better, however, not to delay till the
reversal of eclipse commences, though completion of Namaz-e-Ayaat may coincide
with the time of reversal.
1505. If a person delays offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat till the sun or the
moon starts coming out of eclipse, the niyyat of Ada (i.e. praying within time)
will be in order, but if he offers the prayers after the eclipse is over, he
should make a niyyat of qadha.
1506. If the duration of solar or lunar eclipse allows time for one or
less Rak'at, Namaz-e-Ayaat can be offered with the niyyat of Ada. Similarly, if
a person has enough duration of eclipse at his disposal, but he delays till the
time to offer one Rak'at remains before the eclipse is over, he will pray with
the niyyat of Ada (i.e. within time).
1507. When earthquake, thunder lightning and other similar events take
place, a person should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat immediately, not allowing undue
delay. But if these occurrences continue for a protracted time, praying
immediately is not obligatory. If one delays when one should not, then, as per
recommended precaution, Namaz-e-Ayaat should be offered without the niyyat of
ada or qadha.
1508. If a person did not know about the sun or the moon eclipse, and
came to know after the eclipse was over, he should give its qadha if it was a
total eclipse. And if he comes to know that the eclipse was partial, qadha will
not be obligatory.
1509. If certain people say that the sun or the moon has been
eclipsed, but a person hearing that is not satisfied with what they say, and
consequently does not offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, if it transpires later that what they
said was true, the person should offer Namaz-e-Ayaat if it was a total eclipse.
And if it was a partial eclipse, it is not obligatory upon him to offer
Namaz-e-Ayaat. The same rule applies if two persons who he does not consider
Adil, say that the sun or the moon has been eclipsed and it transpires later
that they are Adil''.
1510. If a person is satisfied with the statement of persons who know
the time of solar or lunar eclipse according to scientific calculation, he
should pray Namaz-e-Ayaat. Also, if they inform him that the sun or moon will be
eclipsed at a particular time, and give him the duration of the eclipse, he
should accept their words and act accordingly, provided he is fully satisfied
with them.
1511. If a person realises that Namaz-e-Ayaat offered by him was void,
he should offer it again. And if the time has passed, he should offer its qadha.
1512. If Namaz-e-Ayaat becomes obligatory on a person at the time of
daily prayers, and if he has enough time at his disposal for both, he can offer
any of them first. If the time for one of them is short, he should offer that
prayers first, and if the time for both of them is short, he should offer the
daily prayers first.
1513. If a person realises during the daily prayers that the time for
Namaz-e-Ayaat is short, and if the time for daily prayers is also short, he
should complete the daily prayers and then offer Namaz-e-Ayaat. But if the time
for daily prayers is not short, he should break that prayers and first offer
Namaz-e-Ayaat and then offer the daily prayers.
1514. If a person realises while offering Namaz-e-Ayaat, that the time
for daily prayers is short, he should leave Namaz-e-Ayaat and start offering the
daily prayers. After completing the daily prayers, and before performing any act
which invalidates the prayers, he should start Namaz-e-Ayaat from where he left.
1515. If solar or lunar eclipse, thunder, lightning or any other
similar events take place when a woman is in her menses or nifas, it will not be
obligatory for her to offer Namaz-e-Ayaat, nor is there any qadha upon
her.