Updated 12 August 2008

A partial lunar eclipse is due to occur on Saturday 16th August, 2008. The eclipse will be visible over most of Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Although only a partial eclipse, this eclipse should be quite significant, as most of the Moon will pass inside the Earth's umbral shadow.

The partial eclipse will begin at approximately 19:35:45 GMT and end just over 3 hours later at 22:44:38 GMT, with the moment of greatest eclipse at
21:10:08 GMT.

For Mu'mineen in South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indo-Pak subcontinent, Far East and Australia, Namaz e Ayaat should be prayed between 19:40 GMT - 22:40 GMT.

This picture shows the path of the eclipse and the expected timings.
Mu'mineen in the light blue, dark blue, black, dark pink and light pink areas are expected to be able to see the eclipse.

The timings given above are approximate timings based on astronomical data.
Mu'mineen are advised to verify these timings before embarking upon recital of Namaz e Ayaat.

You may access some useful masail related to the performance of
Namaz-e-Ayat: http://www.al-islam.org/laws/ayaat.html

We would like to draw your attention to two particular rulings:
 
1505. If a person delays offering of Namaz-e-Ayaat till the sun or the moon starts coming out of eclipse, the niyyat of Ada (i.e. praying within time) will be in order, but if he offers the prayers after the eclipse is over, he should make a niyyat of qadha.
 
1508. If a person did not know about the sun or the moon eclipse, and came to know after the eclipse was over, he should give its qadha if it was a total eclipse. And if he comes to know that the eclipse was partial, qadha will not be obligatory.