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Is it prescribed to pray when an earthquake happens or there are strong winds?

Question: 163821

If there is an earthquake or other signs in some land, is it prescribed for its people to pray ?.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Yes, it is mustahabb to pray when one of these signs happens,
such as eclipses, earthquakes, violent storms, persistent and frightening
winds, and destructive floods, because it is narrated in a saheeh report
from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he prayed when an
earthquake struck Basra, offering a prayer like the eclipse prayer. Then he
said: This is how prayers should be offered at the time of these signs.

Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2/472; ‘Abd ar-Razzaaq, 3/101;
al-Bayhaqi in as-Sunan al-Kubra, 3/343. And he said: This is proven
from Ibn ‘Abbaas. End quote. Classed as saheeh by al-Haafiz in Fath al-Baari,
2/521 

Al-Kasaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

It is mustahabb to pray at all times of alarm, such as when
there are strong winds, earthquakes, darkness, and ongoing rain, because
they are causes of alarm and fear.

End quote from Badaa’i‘ as-Sanaa’i‘, 1/282 

It says in Manh al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel
(1/333): It is recommended to pray when there is an earthquake or similar
frightening signs such as epidemics and plagues, individually or in
congregation, two rak‘ahs or more. End quote. 

The Hanbalis limited the recommendation of prayer to
earthquakes, because that was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas. As for other signs,
it is not prescribed to pray at those times.

See: Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘, 2/66 

Ash-Shaafa‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) was of the view
that it is prescribed to pray at times of these signs individually, but it
is not prescribed to pray in congregation on such occasions.

See: al-Majmoo‘, 5/61, by an-Nawawi. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him)
was of the view that it is prescribed to pray in the event of all signs. He
(may Allah have mercy on him) said: The eclipse prayer may be offered on all
occasions when there is a sign, such as earthquakes and other events. This
is the view of Abu Haneefah and was narrated from Ahmad. It is also the view
among our companions and others.

End Quote from al-Fataawa al-Kubra, 5/358 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned
three opinions concerning the matter, the third of which is that this prayer
may be offered at the time of any frightening sign. Then he (may Allah have
mercy on him) said: This last view is the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam
Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him), and it is a very strong view.
This is the more correct view.

End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 5/93 

And Allah knows best.

Source

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