What is the recommended structure for the eclipse prayer regarding recitation length and number of rak'ahs?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of the Eclipse Prayers (Solar and Lunar)
Primary text
The recommended structure involves two rak'ahs, each containing two periods of standing (Qiyam), two recitations, two bowings (Ruku), and two prostrations (Sujud), totaling four rak'ahs and four prostrations. In the first rak'ah, one recites Surah Al-Baqarah or its equivalent length, bows for the length of one hundred Glorifications, then rises, recites Surah Al Imran or its equivalent, bows for two-thirds the length of the first bowing, and then performs long prostrations. The second rak'ah mirrors this structure but the standing and bowing lengths are generally shorter than those in the first rak'ah. It is mandatory to recite audibly (Jahar) regardless of whether the eclipse occurs during the day or night.
Supporting text
The specific measure of recitation length is not established solely through direct transmission from Ahmad, though it is supported by the report from Ibn Abbas that the standing was nearly the length of Surah Al-Baqarah, and Aisha's report estimating the recitation in the first rak'ah as Al-Baqarah and the second as Al Imran. Some scholars, including Malik and Al-Shafi'i, argue against prolonging the prostrations since it was not explicitly narrated. They also state that audible recitation should only occur during the lunar eclipse, not the solar eclipse, basing this on Aisha's estimate which implies silent recitation during the day.