Question:
What is the manner of supplication in the prayer of Istisqa (prayer for rain)?
Answer:
In Istisqa (prayer for rain), supplication is the most important component. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ especially performed the Istisqa prayer with extreme humility and helplessness, raising his hands towards the sky so much that the whiteness of his armpits was visible.
❀ Sayyiduna Umair Mawla Abi Lahm رضي الله عنه narrates:
إنه رأى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يستسقي عند أحجار الزيت قريبا من الزوراء قائما يدعو يستسقي رافعا يديه قبل وجهه لا يجاوز بهما رأسه
I saw the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ near Zura’ at a place called Ahjar al-Zayt, standing and praying for rain. He had his hands raised up to his face but not above his head.
This hadith was declared authentic by Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله
.
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يرفع يديه فى شيء من دعاء إلا فى الاستسقاء، وإنه يرفع حتى يرى بياض إبطيه
The Prophet ﷺ did not raise his hands in any supplication except for Istisqa; in Istisqa, he raised his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits was visible.
The extent to which the Prophet ﷺ exaggerated in raising his hands in this prayer was not seen in other prayers.
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was delivering a sermon when a man said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Our wealth has been destroyed and the roads have been cut off; pray to Allah to send down rain upon us. The Prophet ﷺ raised his hands and prayed:
اللهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا
O Allah! Send down rain upon us, O Allah! Send down rain upon us, O Allah! Send down rain upon us.
contains:
رفع الناس أيديهم معه يدعون
People also raised their hands and began to pray along with the Noble Messenger ﷺ.
❀ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his hands, there was not a single cloud in the sky. Suddenly, clouds appeared like mountains. Before he descended from the pulpit, I saw rain falling on the blessed beard of the Prophet ﷺ.
❀ In one narration:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was delivering a sermon when a villager said: We are drowning; pray to the Lord to stop the rain. The Prophet ﷺ prayed: O Allah! Leave us and send rain to the surrounding areas. He prayed this two or three times. Consequently, the clouds began to disperse to the left and right of Madinah, rain started falling in the outskirts of Madinah, and the rain stopped immediately where we were. Allah demonstrated the miracle, blessing, and acceptance of the Prophet’s ﷺ supplication.
❀ Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه narrates:
People came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ crying. The Prophet ﷺ prayed: O Allah! Grant us beneficial, pleasant, and profitable rain, which is not harmful, comes quickly, and does not delay. The sky began to pour rain upon them.
This hadith was declared authentic by Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله
. Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله
also declared its chain authentic.
Imam Hakim رحمه الله
declared it authentic according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs. Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله
agreed with him.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed for rain:
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ
O Allah! Give water to Your servants and livestock, spread Your mercy, and revive the dead earth.
❀ Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله
declared its chain Hasan Muttasil.
