As stargazers look to the sky to watch solar or lunar eclipse on Tuesday, some Muslims perform a special prayer known as the Salat al kusoof.
The partial solar eclipse on October 25 will peak just before 4pm in the UAE, with the next one not visible in the country until 2027.
But why do some Islamic countries perform the special prayer?
What is salat al kusoof?
The eclipse prayer is not mandatory (fardh), rather it is advised (sunnah) because Prophet Mohammed was said to do it, as a reminder of God's greatness.
Muslims perform it whenever an eclipse occurs. It is typically performed in groups, in mosques lead by an imam.
What does it entail?
Salat al kusoof is slightly different than the mandatory five daily prayers prescribed to Muslims.
It is not preceded by an athan, or call to prayer, and the recitation of Quran is typically longer than standard prayers.
It comprises two rakats, each of which includes two ruko (bows) and two sujood, where the forehead is placed on the ground.
Muslims hold these prayers and recite duaa because this phenomenon is considered to be a sign of Allah’s power and a time to remember His greatness.
When was salat al kusoof introduced to Islam?
It is said that the sun was eclipsed the day that Ibrahim, the son of Prophet Mohammed died. This led people to believe that it happened because of Ibrahim’s death.
In response, the Prophet is believed to have said: "The Sun and the Moon are two signs from Allah, and they do not become eclipsed for the death or the birth of anyone. If you see that, hasten to remember Allah and to pray."
How to watch the solar eclipse
The eclipse will peak at 3.51pm in the UAE, and will be visible for around two hours, until roughly 4.54pm.
The Dubai Astronomy Group is hosting a viewing event at the Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre in Dubai's Mushrif Park.
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UAE stargazers enjoy breathtaking lunar eclipse
Specs
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BMW M5 specs
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Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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The specs
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Power: 181hp
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Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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