The Light of Truth — Page 490
490 THE LIGHT OF TRUTH-PART TWO upon his death, the sun was eclipsed by the permission of Allah, the Gracious; why, then, would it not eclipse [on the 15th of Ramadan] in the Latter Days by the permission of the Lord of all the worlds. They do not know that this narration is inauthentic; in fact, it is a clear lie a statement of the fabricators. Ibn Taimiyyah has observed that this narration is from al-Waqidi, thus, everything in it is false, for, al-Wāqidi was not [accorded the sta- tus of] hujjah ['proof'] by general consensus with regard to the chain of narration of what he related; and how could it be [trustworthy] when it is maqtū [having a broken chain of narration], and the account of the speaker that the sun eclipsed on the 10th is like his saying that the hilāl [crescent moon] appeared on the 20th! Furthermore, accu- rate and decisive examination and true and sound observation have testified that the practice of Allah has decreed that the moon will not be eclipsed except during the days when its light is fullest and the sun will not be eclipsed except during the final days of the [lunar] month. And there is no change in the established practice of the Lord of all the worlds. Hence, the prophecy of the lunar and solar eclipses manifested according to this ancient practice and continuous, clear pattern. Thus, what need arose such that we must abrogate a correct and accepted concept, and what tragedy struck such that we must change what is recognized and understood? The truth that Allah desired to manifest has indeed manifested, so do not deny the truth after its having come to you, and do not turn away from that which is proven, present, visi- ble, and attested to. I have presented my words as an invitation for the seekers, and I have conclusively proved this matter on the basis of the Quran, Sunnah, and the statements of the Imams and the salaf [prede- cessors] of the ummah. So, is there anyone who would fear Allah and adopt the ways of the righteous? Another delusion of theirs is that this hadith is not a hadith of our Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen One, but rather a saying of Imam Bāqir and we do not even find the name of the Chief of Mankind in it.