A total lunar eclipse will be visible across Indonesia on Tuesday evening, March 3, 2026, following the Maghrib prayer. The event has prompted calls for Muslims throughout the archipelago to perform the shalat khusuf, or eclipse prayer.
Ustadz Alhafiz Kurniawan explained the importance of performing the prayer, particularly in congregation, citing guidance from the Nihayatuz Zain text, as reported by NU Online on Tuesday.
The shalat khusuf differs from standard prayers in its structure. Specifically, both Surat Al-Fatihah and the bowing (ruku) are performed twice within each rak’ah. After the initial ruku, worshippers stand to recite Surat Al-Fatihah and another verse before returning to ruku and then performing the i’tidal.
The prayer can be performed collectively with audible recitation (jahar) or individually (munfarid).
The intention (niat) for the prayer is recited in Arabic: “Ushallî sunnatal khusûfi rak‘ataini imâman/makmûman lillâhi ta‘âlâ,” which translates to “I intend to pray the sunnah of the lunar eclipse, two rak’ahs, as an imam/follower for the sake of Allah the Almighty.”
The prescribed order of the prayer is as follows: recite the intention internally during the initial takbir; recite the opening takbir although holding the intention in the heart; recite the taawudz and Surat Al-Fatihah, followed by Surat Al-Baqarah or another suitable surah recited audibly; perform ruku while reciting tasbih for a duration equivalent to reciting 100 verses of Surat Al-Baqarah; rise to i’tidal without reciting a supplication, but instead reciting Surat Al-Fatihah again, followed by Surat Ali Imran or a similar surah; perform ruku again, reciting tasbih for a duration equivalent to reciting 80 verses of Surat Al-Baqarah; return to i’tidal and recite the supplication; perform sujud while reciting tasbih for the same duration as the first ruku; sit between the two sujuds; perform the second sujud reciting tasbih for the same duration as the second ruku; sit briefly before rising for the second rak’ah, repeating the movements of the first rak’ah, but reciting Surat An-Nisa during the first standing position and Surat Al-Maidah during the second; and conclude with the salam.
Following the prayer, the imam or designated leader is to deliver two sermons (khutbahs) offering guidance to the congregation to seek forgiveness, increase piety, repent, give charity, and advocate for marginalized communities.
According to data from the LF PBNU (Lembaga Falak Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama), the phases of the total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, will occur as follows: the beginning of the partial eclipse at 16:50:01 WIB (Western Indonesian Time); the beginning of the total eclipse at 18:04:28 WIB; the peak of the eclipse at 18:33:37 WIB; the end of the total eclipse at 19:02:24 WIB; and the end of the partial eclipse at 20:17:13 WIB.