Prayer of Istisqa: Detailed Explanation, Sunnah Method, and Prophetic Teachings
Muslims’ Conduct During Times of Drought
When there is a drought in an area and no rain falls, Muslims should humbly and submissively designate specific days to supplicate before Allah Almighty:
◈ At sunrise, wearing old clothes, proceed with humility and weeping towards an open place, such as an Eidgah.
◈ A pulpit should be placed there.
◈ Supplication and prayer should be performed with devotion and humility.
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went out wearing old clothes, walking with humility and slowness, with humility and weeping, and reached the place of the (Istisqa) prayer.”
Narration of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained about the drought, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
◈ He ordered the pulpit to be placed in the Eidgah.
◈ As soon as the sun rose, he sat on the pulpit.
◈ He praised and glorified Allah.
◈ He mentioned the famine and encouraged turning to Allah.
◈ Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated:
’’اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ مَالِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ لَا إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ یَفْعَلُ مَا یُرِیْدُ ۔ اَللّٰہُمَّ أَنْتَ اللّٰہُ لَا إِلٰہَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْغَنِیُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ أَنْزِلْ عَلَیْنَا الْغَیْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ لَنَا قُوَّۃً وَّبَلَاغًا إِلٰی حِیْنٍ.‘‘
“All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate. Owner of the Day of Judgment. He does whatever He wills. O Allah, You are the true God; there is no deity worthy of worship except You. You are generous and carefree, and we are Your needy and poor servants. Send down rain upon us, and make the rain You send a source of strength and means to achieve our goals for a period.”
◈ Then the Prophet (peace be upon him):
Raised both hands gradually until the whiteness of the armpits appeared.
◈ Turned the cloth towards the Qiblah.
◈ Descended from the pulpit and led two units of prayer.
◈ At that moment, by Allah’s command, rain began to fall.
Sermon Before Prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a sermon before the Istisqa prayer.
Raising Hands During Dua
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه says:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not raise both hands in any dua except during the Istisqa prayer.
During Istisqa, he raised his hands until the armpits were visible.
Another narration:
He ﷺ was standing, raising his hands in front of his face but not above the head.
From all these ahadith, it is understood that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the righteous companions رضي الله عنهم considered only Allah as the Generous and the Bestower and directly supplicated to Him.
This belief is also stated in the Holy Quran.
Therefore, we too should consider Allah as the Generous and the Bestower and supplicate only to Him. This is the requirement of love and obedience to the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. (A, R)
Direction of the hands while supplicating
The back of the hands of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was towards the sky.
Words of the supplication (Supplications for Istisqa)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated in the Friday sermon:
’’اَللّٰہُمَّ أسْقِنَا، اَللّٰہُمَّ أسْقِنَا، اَللّٰہُمَّ أسْقِنَا.‘‘
“O Allah! Give us water to drink, O Allah! Give us water to drink, O Allah! Give us water to drink.”
Narration of Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه:
“اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ”
“O Allah! Give us water to drink, send down upon us such rain that quenches our thirst. Let it be light showers that grow crops and bring benefit, not harm; let it come quickly, not delayed.”
Another supplication of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
’’اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ، وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ، وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ‘‘
(O Allah! Quench the thirst of Your servants and animals, spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead towns.)
Turning the Cloak (Tahweel al-Ridaa)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zaid رضي الله عنه says:
The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم went out towards the Eidgah.
He turned his back to the people and faced the Qiblah to pray.
Then he turned the cloak and led two Rak’ahs of prayer.
In another narration:
There was a black cloth on the body of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When it was difficult to turn it, he turned the cloth over on his shoulders.
The method of turning the cloth was that the right edge was placed on the left shoulder and the left edge on the right shoulder.
Method of Salat al-Istisqa
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ offered the two rak’ah prayer of Istisqa like the Eid prayer.
According to the narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Yazid Ansari رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed two rak’ahs.
He recited aloud.
He performed the prayer without Adhan and Iqamah.
Ibn Battal states:
There is consensus among scholars that there is no Adhan and Iqamah in Salat al-Istisqa.
