Blood Moon in the Sky of Sudan| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan (Sudan) – Today, astronomy enthusiasts will have a second chance to see the "Blood Moon," for those who missed this phenomenon last March. To learn more about this astronomical phenomenon, we interviewed Prof. Dr.
Moutaman Mirghani Daffalla Elbasheer at
Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) and the National Research Center.

(Q) When will the eclipse occur? Is it possible to view it in Sudan?
(C) According to astronomical calculations, the eclipse that will occur will occur on the evening of Sunday, the fifteenth of Rabi' al-Awwal, corresponding to September 7, 2025. The total eclipse will begin, Allah willing, at approximately 7:30 PM Sudan time, peak at 8:11 PM, and end at approximately 8:53 PM. The partial eclipse will end with the moon completely emerging from the Earth's shadow at 10:55 PM.
Yes, it will be visible not only in Sudan, but also primarily in Asia and most Arab countries, and even in European and African countries, albeit to a lesser extent.

(Q) Why is it called a blood moon or a red eclipse?
(A) This type of eclipse is called a red moon or blood moon because of the red color the moon turns during the eclipse, a result of the scattering of sunlight falling on the lunar surface by the Earth's atmosphere. He added that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon on the night of the full moon in the middle of the lunar month, and the moon enters the Earth's shadow, partially or completely.

(Q) Can an eclipse occur on any day of the month?
(A) No. A lunar eclipse occurs in the middle of the lunar month, when the moon is full and is directly opposite the direction of the sun from Earth. A solar eclipse only occurs at the beginning of the month when the moon is in the same direction as the sun from Earth. Allah Almighty said in Surah Yasin, "And the moon - We have determined for it phases until it returns [appearing] like an old stalk [of palm branches]," explaining the change in the moon's size during the lunar month.

(Q) Can the change in the moon's size be considered a type of eclipse?
(C) Unfortunately, some ordinary people hold this false belief, claiming that the change in the moon's size is merely a result of the Earth's shadow falling on the moon's surface in the illuminated part (the visible part) during the month, from the time the moon is born small, then reaches full moon in the middle of the month, until the moon returns to being small like an old stalk near its end.
However, the correct view is that the size of the crescent moon changes each month due to the difference in the angle of light reflection from the moon's surface toward the Earth. The crescent moon is smaller when the moon is closest to the sun. Therefore, we see the crescent moon in the west shortly after sunset at the beginning of the month, or in the east shortly before sunrise at the end of the month. Prof. Moutaman added that this happens twelve times a month and is visible to all people on earth. However, partial or total solar and lunar eclipses occur a few times a year, but not all people on earth can see them. A solar eclipse only occurs at the beginning of the month when the Moon is in the same direction as the Sun from Earth.

(Q) In some parts of Sudan, there are those who beat metals when an eclipse occurs. Tell us about the origin of this custom.
(C) I remember when we were young in Sudan, and a lunar eclipse occurred, some people would beat metals to alert people of the lunar eclipse. Some of the common people believed this would ward off the eclipse. This custom has no origin in Islam or ancient Arab heritage, but is linked to the story of the scholar who was imprisoned for claiming that the moon would eclipse in a few days. When his prediction came true and the moon eclipsed that night, and he looked out of his cell window, he beat a metal plate to alert the guards and people to witness the eclipse and prove the truth of his claim.
Therefore, lunar and solar eclipses should not be linked to events occurring on Earth, as the sun and moon are signs of Allah. This is evident when Ibrahim, the son of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), died and the sun was eclipsed that day in Medina. Some of the Companions thought the eclipse was due to Ibrahim's death. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) told them, "The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah. They do not eclipse for the death or life of anyone. So when you see them, supplicate to Allah and pray until they disappear."

(Q) So, how should a Muslim behave when this cosmic phenomenon occurs?
(C) It is established in Islam that the eclipse prayer, or the eclipse prayer, is performed in congregation, and it is a confirmed Sunnah, whether during a full or partial eclipse. It is part of the Prophetic Sunnah for Muslims to pray two rak'ahs, with two recitations, two bowings, and two prostrations in each rak'ah. There is a non-confirmed interpretation of the verse (and from the evil of the darkening when it sets) that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) told Lady Aisha when the moon was eclipsed on the night of its full moon that this was the darkening when it set.

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