UAE's General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat has called for performing the eclipse prayer on September 7 as the country witnesses what can be considered its biggest astronomical event of the year.

Worshippers are urged to join the special prayer immediately after Isha (7.50pm) in all mosques across the country, with the prayer time extending until 10.30pm.

This comes based on the announcement by the International Astronomy Center of a lunar eclipse, which will begin around 8.27pm, reach its peak at 10.12pm, and end at 11.57pm.

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The Emirates Fatwa Council clarified in a statement that the eclipse prayer is recommended for all men and women who are obligated to pray, whether the eclipse is partial or total.

What makes the September 7 eclipse special is its long totality of 82 minutes and its global visibility. A lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, and requires no visual protection like special glasses or filters.

The next visible lunar eclipse visible from the UAE will be on July 6, 2028. However it will be a partial eclipse.

Ecplise prayer explained

The UAE Council for Fatwa has clarified how Muslims can perform this special prayer and why.

Ecplise prayers in Islam can be performed anytime during the night, in accordance with one hadith by Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

It is recommended for any lunar eclipse, except when the eclipsed portion is so small that it is not visible to people and is only detected by specialists in astronomy. In that case, the eclipse prayer is not performed.

The lunar eclipse prayer is performed as two rak‘ahs (a unit for prayer in Islam). It is an audible ritual; which means that it is advised to recite the prayer aloud.

Religious authorities say that Muslims can repeat these two rak'ahs more than once until the eclipse is over or till dawn.

Regarding where it can be performed, the Council said that it is advised to pray at home alone, but Muslims can also do it together at mosques, like how solar eclipse prayers are usually performed. Mosques in the UAE will welcome those who wish to perform it from after the Ishaa prayer until 10.30pm.

The Council also shared a special duaa (prayer) on X that can be recited after the ecplise prayer.