UNAIR NEWS – Indonesian society has just witnessed an extraordinary occurence. One sign of the greatness of the Creator. The rare phenomenon of a total lunar eclipse named “Super Blue Blood Moon” that can be seen in all regions of Indonesia.

Many things were done by the people of Indonesia to welcome this rare phenomenon. For some moslems, lunar eclipse prayer was done in various mosques after isya prayer. Others may also watched the total lunar eclipse with the naked eye or through aids together including in Universitas Airlangga.

Located at Ulul Azmi Mosque Campus C UNAIR, UNAIR academic community held an eclipse prayer which is one of the sunnah prayers highly recommended to do. The eclipse prayer was done after the Isya prayer at around 19:40 pm. Before the eclipse prayer was done, the prayers first get an explanation from Ustaz Nuruddin, SH, as a imam for the  eclipse prayer.

“There is a different movements for the eclipse prayers instead of the usual prayers” he explained. “The eclipse prayer consisting of 2 rakaah. In every rakaah there are twice ruku movement ‘and twice of al-Fatihah  and other surah reading, “he added

The eclipse prayer attended by academic community of UNAIR, residents around the campus, and Rector of UNAIR Prof. Dr. Moh. Nasih, SE, MT, Ak., CMA., continued with a sermon. The sermon was about the lunar eclipse wisdom delivered by Ustaz Rahmat Ihya ‘S.Ag., M.IP.

“There were many assumptions about lunar eclipse before Islam came. Starting from the belief in China about the presence of dragons and beliefs in Indonesia with giant Buto Ijo gripping the moon, “he explained.

Ustaz Rahmat explained that for Muslims there are more values than just beauty in the lunar eclipse. It was explained from the hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW which says, there are four practices that are recommended to be done during the eclipse.

“These four deeds are praises to remember Allah SWT, give your best alms, perform eclipse prayers, and listen to the sermon afterwards,” said Ustaz Rahmat in his sermon.

Author: Hilmi Putra Pradana

Editor: Nuri Hermawan