Blood Moon in Islam: Meaning, myths, and sunnah practices

The world waits with bated breath, especially first-timers eager to see the red glow of a Blood Moon in India and across several continents. People across Asia and Europe are talking about its meaning in different cultures and religions. The celestial event is expected to happen overnight on September 7 and 8.

Starting at 8:58 pm tonight, the Moon will slowly slip into Earth’s shadow, glowing a deep crimson at its peak. With 82 minutes of totality, this is set to be one of the longest lunar eclipses in ten years. The celestial event will stretch over five hours, wrapping up at 2:25 am on September 8.

In Islam, a lunar eclipse, often called a Blood Moon, is not a curse or a bad omen. It is not a sign of disaster. Instead, it is seen as a natural sign of Allah’s power. It is a moment for reflection, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. This is the second lunar eclipse of 2025. The first one occurred in March.

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The lunar eclipse will last for 48 minutes, according to the Senior Planetarium Engineer at Nehru Planetarium, OP Gupta, reported ANI.

In Delhi, the penumbral phase (initial phase) will start at 8.58 pm…The partial eclipse will begin at around 9.57 pm. It will peak at around 11.48 p.m. Its duration will be a little more than 48 minutes.

Blood Moon a natural phenomena: Islam

Islamic scholar Dr Waris Mazhari told the OT that  Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clarified that eclipses are natural phenomena and not connected to human births, deaths, or misfortunes.

“One famous event illustrates this clearly: In 630 CE, a solar eclipse occurred on the same day the Prophet’s young son, Ibrahim, passed away. Some people believed the eclipse happened because of his death. The Prophet immediately corrected them.” The people of Arabia at that time believed the sun’s eclipse caused the death of the Prophet’s son. This belief quickly spread across the Arab world.

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To counter it, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of the death or birth of someone, so when you observe the eclipse, remember Allah, and pray until it is over.” (Bukhari & Muslim).

The Prophet urged his followers to offer prayers.

Recommended sunnah during lunar eclipse

Islam encourages Muslims to respond to a Blood Moon with acts of worship rather than fear. The Prophet (PBUH) recommended the following practices during a lunar eclipse by offering Salat al-Khusuf (eclipse prayer): A special prayer offered in congregation or individually during a lunar eclipse, consisting of two rak‘ahs with longer recitations, bowing, and supplication. It is not known whether any such arrangements have been made in mosques in Okhla or other parts of the country tonight.

Keeping in the old tradition, the UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat has announced that a special prayer will be held on the evening of September 7. The lunar eclipse is expected to start at 8:27 pm, reach its peak at 10:12 pm, and end by 11:57 pm, according to the International Astronomical Centre.

The UAE Council for Fatwa said this prayer is recommended for all Muslims who are required to perform daily prayers, whether the eclipse is partial or total. This prayer is different from the five daily prayers. There is no adhan (call to prayer) and no iqama (announcement for congregation). Scholars encourage people to also give charity, remember God, and ask for forgiveness during this time. Although it is usually performed in mosques, it can also be prayed at home or any suitable place. Worshippers may repeat the two-rakʿah prayer until the eclipse ends or until dawn.

Also, people are urged for dua (supplication): Asking for forgiveness, mercy, and protection from Allah’s punishment; Dhikr (remembrance of Allah); reciting tasbih (SubhanAllah), tahmid (alhamdulillah), and takbir (Allahu Akbar) and giving charity (sadaqah): Helping the needy and performing good deeds during this time is encouraged.

The emphasis is on turning to Allah in humility, recognising His power over the heavens and the earth. In Islamic teachings, solar and lunar eclipses symbolise the approach of the Last Day, calling believers to perform prayers, engage in charitable deeds, remember Allah, and seek His mercy.

What is a Blood Moon?

A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment casts Earth’s shadow on the Moon, making it appear red. The reddish hue is caused by Earth’s atmosphere filtering sunlight allowing red light to reach the Moon while blocking other wavelengths.

Islamic view: A sign, not a superstition

In pre-Islamic times, many cultures linked eclipses with the death of rulers, upcoming calamities, or supernatural forces. Islam rejected these superstitions. The Qur’an mentions the Sun and the Moon as clear signs of Allah’s creation.

Qur’anic perspective: “And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:37)

Though the Qur’an does not specifically use the term “Blood Moon,” lunar eclipses fall under these signs meant to remind believers of the Creator’s greatness.

Debunking myths about Blood Moon in Islam

It does not bring bad luck: There is no evidence in the Qur’an or authentic Hadith that eclipses cause harm or predict disasters.

It is not linked to births or deaths: The Prophet rejected this belief explicitly.

Watching it is not sinful: Observing a Blood Moon is permissible; it does not harm your eyes or spiritual state.

Conclusion

Five years ago an user SpiritedHorse0 posted this on reddit.com: “I was recently watching a documentary about how the ottomans conquered Constantinople and that when they were losing hope and thought their conquest would end in a failure they saw a blood moon and they saw this as a good omen from Allah and this inspired them where as the Christians defending Constantinople saw this as a bad omen and greatly deteriorated their morale. What do you guys think a blood moon means in Islam?”

The Blood Moon is a moment of beauty and awe, a reminder of the Creator’s power rather than a cause for fear. Islam encourages believers to witness such events with reflection, prayer, and humility. As the Moon turns red in the night sky, it is an opportunity to reconnect with faith, seek forgiveness, and remember that everything in the universe moves by the will of Allah.