The Light of Truth — Page 419
SIGNS TO STRIKE FEAR INTO THE HEARTS 419 frightens His servants thereby; if you observe them then hasten to prayer. ]¹ Observe how the Chief of all Chiefs and Seal of the Prophets advised. What's more, there is an indication in the Hadith that those two Signs from the Gracious God are espe- cially for striking fear into those in this age who disobey God. They appear only when there is a surfeit of disobedience and mankind exceeds all bounds in rebellion; and there is an excess of men and women engaged in evil. It is for this very reason that the Holy Prophetas instructed to perform good works and has- ten to do virtuous acts—upon observing these two [Signs]-in the form of prayer and charity with pure intentions; to suppli- cate and cry [in prayer] like the men and women of obedience; and to return to Allah, His remembrance, and supplications; and to standing, bowing, and prostrating [in prayer]; and to repentance, penitence, and seeking forgiveness; and to seeking pardon from the Forgiver; and to submission, supplication, and humility-and the like of this based upon one's God-given ability and the freeing of a slave, the releasing of captives, and the equitable care of orphans; and to the lowering of oneself completely before God Almighty, the Lord of the heavens and the earths. The secret behind all these actions, submission, and sup- plication [enjoined by the Prophet] is that the sun and moon are eclipsed only when an affliction befalls the people and a calamity strikes, and when the days of great suffering are nigh, and the means of evil are prepared, which are hidden from the eyes of mankind but which are known to the Lord of all the 1. The original Arabic is a compilation of quotes from multiple ahādīth found in Şahih al-Bukhari's Kitābul-Kusūf [Book of Eclipses] and Şahih Muslim Kitabul-Kusüf [Book of Eclipses]. [Publisher]