Rare Moment 190 Years, Total Lunar Eclipse Coincides With Vesak Day

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JAKARTA - Researchers Pussains LAPAN M Zam-zam N said the Total Lunar Eclipse (GBT) on Wednesday, May 26 is a rare phenomenon because it coincides with Vesak Day.

"This year's super red moon eclipse no longer exists. This includes rare. Tomorrow it coincides with Vesak Day, so it becomes even rarer," Zam-zam said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said the period of super red moon eclipse that coincides with the next Vesak Day may only be witnessed again after hundreds of years. He mentioned about 190 years if it coincides with the Holy Tri Vesak Day.

GBT will occur to coincide with the vesak seconds at 15 suklapaksa (paroterang) Waisaka 2565 Buddhist Era which falls on May 26 at 18.13 WIB with a distance of 357.461 kilometers (km) from Earth.

The eclipse will be able to be witnessed throughout Indonesia from the East-Southeast direction without the use of any optical aids, located near the constellation Scorpius. With a fairly short total eclipse phase duration of 14 minutes and 30 seconds.

Scientifically, he said the existence of lunar eclipses is also a proof that human knowledge of the position of celestial bodies is true. Researchers or astronomers are able to predict the existence of celestial bodies, because their movement is certain and true.

"There is regularity in the dynamics of celestial bodies, particularly the movement of the Sun, Moon and Earth," Zam-zam said.

He challenged the public to prove it by seeing if the seconds of tomorrow's super red moon eclipse occurred as predicted by researchers or astronomers.

"We will prove later, (predictions) that we have whether the exact event at 18.18 WIB. That's one of the scientific evidence of this eclipse phenomenon," he said.

GBT that occurred on Wednesday, May 26, is very special because it coincides with the occurrence of Perige, which is when the Moon is at its closest distance to Earth. So earth's natural satellite will appear red because of the refraction of the Sun's light by the layers of Earth's atmosphere, so gbt this time called the Super Red Moon or Super Blood Moon.

Meanwhile, visiting the website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Directorate General of Islamic Bimas Ministry of Religion urged Muslims to pray the eclipse sunnah while still applying health protocols (prokes).

"We urge Muslims to perform Eclipse Prayer," explained Director General of Bimas Islam Kamaruddin Amin in Jakarta, Monday (5/24/2021).

According to him, according to the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Muslims are encouraged to pray the eclipse, even in the position of a partial lunar eclipse.  In addition, Muslims are also encouraged to multiply dhikr, prayer, istighfar, repentance, alms, and other charitable deeds.

"Considering the time of the moon rising in each area, then Salat Eclipse can be done in the range after Maghrib Prayer until the end of the Eclipse in accordance with the time above," said Kamaruddin.

"Because it is still a pandemic, Salat Eclipse to be held while adhering to 5M health protocols and disciplines: wash hands, wear masks, maintain distance, reduce mobility, and avoid crowds," he said.

Islamic Guidance during the Eclipse:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الوَلِيْد قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا  زِيَادُ بْنُ عِلَاقَةِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْمُغِيْرَةُ بْنِ شُعْبَةِ يَقُوْلُ اِنْكَسَفَتْ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمَ مَاتَ اِبْرَاهِيْمُ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ اِنْكَسَفَتْ لِمَوْتِ اِبْرَاهِيْمُ فَقَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَأَيَتَانِ مِنْ أَيَاتِ اللهِ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُواهُمَا فَادْعُوا اللهِ وَصَلّوا حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ

Abu Al-Walid (may Allaah have mercy on him) told us that Ziyad ibn 'Ilaqah had told us: "I heard al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah say, "There was a solar eclipse when Abraham died. Then the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Indeed the sun and the moon are two signs of allah's greatness, and he will not experience an eclipse because of death or his life. And when you see the eclipse, pray to Allah and establish prayer until it returns to life." (H.R. Al-Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad SAW teaches us the guidance of noble sharia during the solar eclipse or lunar eclipse, among others:

1. Bring fear of Allah during the eclipse of the sun and the moon, because it reminds us of the signs of the Day of Resurrection, or for fear of god's punishment being sent down because of sins committed.

2. Remembering what the Prophet Muhammad SAW had witnessed in Salat Kusuf. It is narrated that in kusuf prayer, The Prophet (pbuh) was shown by Allah heaven and hell, even he wanted to take a branch from heaven to be shown to them. He is also shown the various forms of punishment inflicted on the people of hell. Therefore, in one of his khutbahs after the eclipse prayer, he said, "O people of Muhammad, by Allah, if you know what I know, you will laugh a little and cry a lot." (H.R. Muttafaq alaih).

3. Calling with the call "Asshalaatu Jaami'ah". And when we are called to prayer, remember Allah, and do not be of those who are in the way of Allah. Aisha narrated that during the eclipse, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered to call for "Ashshalaatu Jaami'ah" (H.R. Abu Daud and al-Nasa'i). There is no adhan and iqamah in the implementation of eclipse prayers. Because the adhaan and iqamah only apply to the five obligatory prayers.

4. It is prescribed to harden the recitation of the letter, whether the prayer is done day or night. This is done by the Prophet (pbuh) in the eclipse prayer (H.R. Muttafaq alaih).

Ordinances of Eclipse Prayer

1. Intending in the heart;2. Takbiratul ihram is to perform as usual;3. Read the prayer iftitah, then read the letter al-Fatihah continued to read the other letter while sewn (hardened voice, not lirih);4. Then bow down';5. Then rose from the ruku' (i'tidal);6. After this i'tidal not immediately bow down, but continued by reading the letter al-Fatihah and other letters. This second stand is shorter than the first;7. Then ruku' returns (the second ruku') which is shorter in length than the previous ruku';8. Then rise from the ruku' (i'tidal);9. Then bow down as long as ruku', then sit between two prostrations, then bow down again;10.Then rise from prostration and do the second raka'at as the first rakaat, only the readings and movements are shorter than before;11.Salam.

After that the imam delivered a khutbah to the congregation containing advice to remember, pray (especially for the outbreak of covid-19 to end), beristighfar, and give alms.

Guide to Organizing Eclipse Prayer during Pandemic

To provide a sense of security to Muslims in the implementation of Lunar Eclipse Prayer, as well as efforts to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, here are guidelines for organizing The Lunar Eclipse Prayer during the pandemic:

1. Pray the Lunar Eclipse in areas classified as Red Zone and Orange Zone to be performed in their homes;

2. Lunar Eclipse Prayers can be held in mosques or squares located in areas declared safe from Covid-19, both green zones and yellow zones, designated by the authorities;

3. In the event that the Lunar Eclipse Prayer is performed in a mosque or field, it should pay close attention to the standards of health protocols and heed the following provisions:

a. Lunar Eclipse Prayer is performed according to the guidance of Shariah, also khutbah followed by all congregations present;b. The congregation must not exceed 50% of the capacity of the place in order to maintain the distance between shaf and between congregations;c. The pilgrims who attend must wear masks perfectly and in accordance with applicable regulations, both in the mosque and in the field;d. The committee is recommended to use a thermo gun in order to ensure healthy conditions and provide a hand sanitizer at each entrance;e. For the elderly (elderly) or people in poor health, newly recovered from illness or from travel, it is advisable not to attend the Lunar Eclipse Prayer;f. Eclipse Prayer Khutbah is done briefly while fulfilling the pillars and requirements of the khutbah no later than 10 minutes;g. The pulpit of the khutbah in masid or field to be equipped with a transparent barrier between khatib and jemaah;h. Pilgrims return home in an orderly manner and avoid shaking hands with physical contact.