When Allah’s Messenger’s son, Ibraheem, passed away, Allah’s Messenger’s attitude towards such dire event was that of a merciful compassionate father who firmly believed in Allah’s Divine Decree, who bore patiently His Divine Decision, and who accepted contentedly His Divine Will. To this effect, Anas, the venerable Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “We entered with Allah’s Messenger upon Abi Saif Al-Qain, who was Ibraheem’s wet nurse’s husband. Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), took Ibraheem to himself, kissed him, and smelled him. Afterwards, we entered upon him again while he was dying, so Allah’s Messenger’s eyes began shedding tears. Abdu-r-Rahman bin ‘Aouf, may Allah be pleased with him, exclaimed, ‘Even you, o Allah’s Messenger!’ Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), replied,

‘O Ibn ‘Aouf! It is mercy!’ Then, he (PBUH) added,‘Verily! The eye does indeed shed tears and the heart does indeed mourn. But we do not say except that which pleases our Lord. Verily, we are indeed grieved, o Ibraheem, by your parting!’”

 Ibraheem’s death coincided with a Solar Eclipse, so some of the Messenger’s Companions thought that the Sun was eclipsed due to Ibraheem’s death. Therefore, Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), who was custodian of Divine Revelation, stood up to deliver a speech whereby he (PBUH) confirmed his rejection of confusing scientific facts with superstitions of common people. He, (PBUH), as narrated by Abi Bakrah, said,

“Verily, the Sun and the Moon are two of Allah’s (cosmic) Signs. They are not eclipsed neither for the death nor the birth of anyone. They are Signs whereby Allah frightens His slaves.”

[Al-Boukhari (995) and Muslim (915)]

 A Lunar Eclipse is the partial or total darkening of the Moon caused by the Earth when it passes between the Sun and the Moon. A Solar Eclipse is the partial or total darkening of the Sun caused by the Moon when it passes between the Sun and the Earth. Both phenomena betoken Allah’s Infinite Divine Might, Power and Mercy. To this effect, Allah, All-Mighty, says,

“And from among His (Allah’s) Signs are the night and the day, and the Sun and the Moon. Prostrate yourselves neither to the Sun nor to the Moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah, Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.”

[XLI; 37]

 He, Glory to Him, also says,

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘tell me! If Allah made the day continuous for you till the Day of Resurrection, which god besides Allah could bring you night wherein you rest?! Will you not then see?!’”

[XXVIII; 71]

 It might be asked: How can the disk of the Moon eclipse that of the Sun although the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Earth?
 The answer is: The Sun is 400 times away from us than the Moon is, which makes them both seem to be of the same size. Therefore, the Moon can eclipse the Sun if it passes along between it (the Sun) and the Earth.
 However, the beauty of the sight of the Solar Eclipse must not make us forget the danger of the Sun’s radiation on our eyes during such a natural phenomenon. This is because looking at the Sun without proper protective shields during a Solar Eclipse causes serious damage to the human eye while the person whose eyes are inflicted is unconscious. This is because the retina does not have any pain-sensors. In this regards special care should be taken of young children who do not know the danger of the Sun’s radiation at such phenomenon and whose eyes are more sensitive than those of adults. That is why Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), bade us to perform the Eclipse Payer during an eclipse of the Sun and to prolong recitation of Quranic Verses and prostration in order to pass the time of the eclipse in prayer and supplication instead of watching.
 According to astronomical calculations a Solar Eclipse took place on the 11th of August, and it was seen all over the Arab World. But it was total only in the northeastern parts; especially northeast of Syria, where it started right after midday and continued for a whole hour; and the Sun was totally eclipsed for two minutes.
During these two minutes, it was possible for astronomers to witness the blasts that took place on the Sun’s surface, especially the tongues of flames that were nearly 1,000,000 kilometers long. And it was also possible to see five planets of the Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
 When someone suffers more than what he bears, he is commonly said to “see the stars at midday”. But during a Solar Eclipse we really see the stars at midday!