Prayer Because of an Earthquake in Islam: Islamic Teachings Explained

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Hi, dear readers! In this article, I will explain one type of Sunnah prayer: the prayer due to an earthquake. As Muslims, it is essential to understand this practice.

In Islamic teachings, an earthquake is a sign of Allah's oneness and might, meant to remind and humble His creation. This is why Muslims are encouraged to pray when an earthquake occurs, seeking Allah's mercy and protection.

Before we delve into the specifics of this prayer, let me share a hadith directly related to this discussion.

Hadith About Prayer Because of an Earthquake

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : اَنَّهُ صَلَّى فِيْ زِلْزِلَةٍ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ , وَأَرْبَعَ سَجْدَاتٍ وَقَالَ : هَكَذَا صَلَاةُ الْآياَتِ . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ

From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), he reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed six rak'ahs and performed four prostrations when an earthquake occurred. He then said, "This is the al-Ayat prayer (a prayer performed during signs of Allah's oneness that inspire fear in His servants)." — Narrated by Al-Baihaqi.

Key Points from the Hadith

Encouragement to Pray: The hadith emphasizes the recommendation to pray during signs of Allah's power, such as earthquakes.

Dua for Lunar Eclipse in Islam

Different Opinions on Implementation:

• The Shafi'i and Hanafi schools of thought suggest that this prayer should be performed individually, not in congregation.
• The Hanbali school recommends performing the prayer during continuous earthquakes, following the format of the Eclipse Prayer.
• Some narrations from Imam Ahmad state that such prayers are performed whenever signs of Allah's oneness appear, not limited to earthquakes.
• Imam Malik, however, holds that this type of prayer is only performed during an eclipse.

A Brief Reflection

This prayer is a spiritual response to natural occurrences, reminding us of Allah's greatness and our dependence on His mercy. As Muslims, we should be mindful of such events and turn to Allah in humility and devotion.

Concluding Words

Dear readers! That was a brief explanation of the prayer because of an earthquake. May Allah guide us to practice it and protect us during such events. Amen!

I hope this article was beneficial. See you again in the next one!