upon it (38). Regarding the eclipse (kusuf), he said: "If you see them (39), then pray (40)." This is specific to this prayer, so it takes precedence over the general prohibition on all prayer. Furthermore, it is a prayer with a [specific] cause, so it resembles what has been established as permissible. Our argument is that the prohibition is for the purpose of prohibition (tahrim), while the command is for recommendation (nadb), and abandoning the prohibited is better than performing the recommended. Their argument that the command is specific to the prayer [itself], we respond: But it is general regarding the time, while the prohibition is specific to it, so it [the prohibition] is given precedence. It is not valid to draw an analogy to making up prayers after 'Asr because the rule of prohibition in that instance is lighter, for the reasons we mentioned; nor to making up the Witr prayer after the break of dawn, for that is a time for it, based on the evidence of the hadith of Abu Basra (41); nor to the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) because it is
(38) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on 'If one enters the mosque, let him pray two rak'ahs,' from the Book of Prayer, and in: The Chapter on 'What has been narrated regarding voluntary prayer being two [rak'ahs] by two,' from the Book of the Tahajjud (Night Prayer). Sahih al-Bukhari 1/120, 121, 2/70. And [by] Muslim, in: The Chapter on 'The desirability of greeting the mosque with two rak'ahs,' etc., from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/495. It was also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on 'What has been narrated regarding if one of you enters the mosque, let him pray two rak'ahs,' from the Chapters on Prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/112. And by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on 'The command to pray before sitting in it,' from the Book of Mosques. al-Mujtaba 2/42. And by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on 'Whoever enters the mosque should not sit until he prays,' from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/323. And by Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on 'Waiting for prayer and walking to it,' from the Book of Traveling. al-Muwatta' 1/162. And by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 5/295, 296, 303, 305, 311. (39) In [M]: "ra'aytumuhuma" (you [dual] see them both). (40) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on 'Prayer during the solar eclipse,' and the Chapter on 'The sun does not eclipse for the death or life of anyone,' from the Book of Eclipses, and in: The Chapter on 'The description of the sun and moon according to calculation,' from the Book of the Beginning of Creation, and in: The Chapter on 'Whoever lets his garment trail out of non-arrogance,' from the Book of Clothing. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/42, 48, 4/131, 132, 7/182. And [by] Muslim, in: The Chapter on 'The Eclipse Prayer,' and the Chapter on 'Mention of the call for the Eclipse Prayer,' from the Book of Eclipses. Sahih Muslim 2/619, 628, 630. And [by] Abu Dawood, in: The Chapter on 'Whoever says four rak'ahs,' from the Book of Asking for Rain (Istisqa'). Sunan Abi Dawood 1/271. And by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on 'The command to pray during the solar eclipse,' the Chapter on 'The command to pray during the lunar eclipse,' and the Chapter on 'The command to pray during an eclipse until it clears,' from the Book of Eclipses. al-Mujtaba 3/102-104. And by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on 'What has been narrated regarding the Eclipse Prayer,' from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/400, 401. And by al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on 'Prayer during an eclipse,' from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/359. And by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 2/109, 118. (41) Previously mentioned on page 530.
