Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question
Is Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ (the prayer for rain) Sunnah?
❖ Answer
Yes, Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ is Sunnah, established by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
Rain is among the greatest blessings of Allah. When it is withheld, drought, famine, and illness spread. Islam teaches turning to Allah in such times through the Sunnah of Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ.
◈ Evidences from Aḥādīth
1. Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
She narrated:
People complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about lack of rain. He ordered a pulpit to be set up in the prayer ground. A day was appointed, and when the sun rose, he came out and sat upon the pulpit. After glorifying and praising Allah, he said:
“You have complained of drought, and Allah has promised that if you call upon Him, He will answer. O Allah! Send down rain upon us, make it a source of strength and benefit for us…”
Then he raised his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits was visible. He turned his back to the people, reversed his cloak, then faced the people again and prayed two rakʿāt. Clouds gathered, thundered, and poured until water flowed through the streets.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1173 – chain ḥasan. Also authenticated by Ibn Ḥibbān 2860, al-Ḥākim, al-Nawawī, al-Dhahabī)
2. Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه
((إن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم استسقى، فصلى ركعتين وقلب رداءه))
“The Prophet ﷺ performed Istisqāʾ, prayed two rakʿāt, and turned his cloak inside out.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1026, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 894)
Another narration:
He turned towards the qiblah, made duʿāʾ, reversed his cloak, and led two rakʿāt aloud.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1025, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 894)
◈ Scholarly Consensus
Imām al-Ṣanʿānī رحمه الله said:
“This ḥadīth proves the legitimacy of Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ, and the scholars have consensus on it, except for Imām Abū Ḥanīfah.”
(al-Taḥbīr 6/99)
✅ Conclusion
- Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ is Sunnah Muʾakkadah.
- It consists of two rakʿāt with audible recitation, performed in the open, with duʿāʾ and the Sunnah act of turning the cloak inside out.
- This practice is proven from multiple authentic narrations and upheld by the consensus of scholars.
