Answering Islam

• is a sign among 2 signs,
  

  Narrated Abu Masud:
  Allah's Apostle said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death or life but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so pray whenever you see them." (Sahih Bukhari 2.165, also Sahih Bukhari 2.161, Sahih Bukhari 2.303)

• used by Allah to frighten His devotees,
  

  Narrated Abu Bakr:

  Allah's Apostle said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone but Allah frightens His devotees with them." (Sahih Bukhari 2.158)
  

  Some questions:
  1. What is the purpose of Allah frightening his believers?
  2. But, of course, we know that the eclipse is a natural occurrence that happens when the moon, earth and sun are in a straight line. As such, it happens with much mathematical regularity, and in fact, we can easily predict its occurrence today. So, in what sense does the previous hadith relate to it?

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