A partial solar eclipse was witnessed in different parts of Europe, North Africa and Central Asia, including Pakistan on Tuesday. Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Arif Mehmood told APP that the solar eclipse began at 11:40 am and would end at 4:01 pm. The greatest eclipse was at 1:51 pm and the greatest magnitude was 0.86.
The eclipse was not visible in most parts of Punjab and Khaber Pakhtunkhwa due to foggy and cloudy conditions prevailing over these areas. However, it was witnessed in Sindh and Balochistan as the sky was clear over these areas. The eclipse began at 2.04 pm in Karachi and end at 3:25 pm while the greatest eclipse was at 2:45 pm, he informed.
The DG informed that five more eclipses including three partial solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses are likely during this year. However, only one partial solar eclipse and two lunar eclipse will be visible in the country.
The partial eclipse of sun likely on June 2, July 1, and November 25 will not be visible in Pakistan while they country would witness lunar eclipse between the night of June 15-16 and December 10, he added. When the solar eclipse occur, Muslims perform a special prayer called Salatul-Kusuf to acknowledge God's power and thank Him for the blessings such as the regular timings of day and night.
The Salatul-Kusuf (eclipse prayer) helps remind Muslims that eclipses are not to be considered in such a light, but rather as signs of God's majesty. Solar and lunar eclipses were often feared by ancient peoples, seen as bad omens or causes of death and war.
Religious scholar, Dr Qibla Ayaz said that some people consider solar eclipse as a bad omen and there are some superstitions linked with it, which have historic background. Referring to the Islamic history, he said, the solar eclipse occurred on the day when Hazrat Ibrahim son of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) died and people start considering it the reason of his death. But the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) in his address clarified that solar eclipse has no link with anybody's life and death and such conditions are natural phenomenon.