On 25th October 2022, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs ordered mosque imams to perform the eclipse prayer when witnessing the eclipse of the sun at noon.

Sheikh Dr. Bandar Balila will be the imam at the eclipse prayer on Tuesday, 25th October at 1.45 PM in Makkah's Grand Mosque, according to the Agency for Imams and Muezzins Affairs at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

During solar eclipse, most mosques in Saudi Arabia offer two rakahs of Salat-al-Kusuf in congregation. From Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.

Abdulaziz Al-Hussaini, a researcher in weather and climate, said that the Kingdom will be witnessing a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday (25th October 2022) in most of the regions of the Kingdom in varying proportions, advising people not to look directly at the Sun.

The partial eclipse of the Sun can be viewed in all regions of Saudi Arabia, in varying proportions, but it is most common in the Eastern, Central, North-Central and North-Eastern regions.

According to the researcher, Saudi citizens and expatriates should avoid looking directly at the Sun during the partial eclipse, which will be at its peak on 2:24 PM, in order to protect their eyes.

A special pair of glasses is required to view the solar eclipse, but no one should look at it for long. It is not enough to wear regular sunglasses to view a solar eclipse. As direct viewing at the solar eclipse causes partial blindness in the eye, as well as changes in color vision, the use of a mobile phone or camera lenses will not provide any protection for the person.

This solar eclipse can be viewed in all regions of Saudi Arabia, with the highest percentage in Khafji (41%). It will be the last solar eclipse in the country until 2027.

Approximately 82% of the partial solar eclipse will be visible in Russia and Central Asia, while 46% in Baghdad and 0.3% in Algeria will be visible in the Arab world.

Europe and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, will witness the solar eclipse, while the Farasan Islands will experience the lowest percentage.

There will be 19% solar eclipses in Najran, 17% in Asir region, 22% in Makkah, 33% in Riyadh, 39% in Dammam, 34% in Qassim and Hail region, 27% in Madina and 30% in Tabuk.

SOURCE : SAUDI EXPATRIATES