The Importance of Du‘ā’ and the Sin of Abandoning Du‘ā’ for Rain
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Some people say, “Even if du‘ā’ for rain is not made, rain can still fall.” Is this correct according to Sharī‘ah?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd:
Such a statement is extremely concerning, because Allah ﷻ clearly commands in the Qur’ān:
﴿وَقالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادعونى أَستَجِب لَكُم﴾ (Sūrah Ghāfir: 60)
“Your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will respond to you.”
Allah ﷻ is All-Wise. Sometimes He delays sending rain so that people realize how desperately they need His mercy, and that there is no refuge except with Him.
Allah ﷻ is:
◈ The Most Knowledgeable.
◈ The Most Wise.
◈ More merciful to His servants than they are to themselves.
Sometimes a person makes du‘ā’ repeatedly but sees no immediate result, so they lose hope and abandon du‘ā’. The Prophet ﷺ warned against this attitude:
«يُسْتَجَابُ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَعْجَلْ، يَقُولُ: دَعَوْتُ فَلَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لِي»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Da‘awāt, Ḥadīth 2735)
“One’s du‘ā’ will be answered so long as he does not hasten, saying: ‘I made du‘ā’ but it was not answered.’”
Abandoning du‘ā’ out of impatience is extremely dangerous — and we seek Allah’s protection from it.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever makes du‘ā’ receives one of three outcomes:
① His du‘ā’ is granted.
② A calamity is averted from him.
③ A reward is stored for him in the Hereafter.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Da‘awāt, Ḥadīth 3573)
Thus, du‘ā’ is always beneficial — it is an act of worship and every word of it is rewarded.
Those who claim, “Rain can fall even without making du‘ā’ for it,” should be advised:
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Question
Some people say, “Even if du‘ā’ for rain is not made, rain can still fall.” Is this correct according to Sharī‘ah?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd:
Such a statement is extremely concerning, because Allah ﷻ clearly commands in the Qur’ān:
﴿وَقالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادعونى أَستَجِب لَكُم﴾ (Sūrah Ghāfir: 60)
“Your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will respond to you.”
The Importance and Wisdom of Du‘ā’
Allah ﷻ is All-Wise. Sometimes He delays sending rain so that people realize how desperately they need His mercy, and that there is no refuge except with Him.
- In such conditions, Allah makes du‘ā’ the cause for rain.
- If, despite du‘ā’, rain does not fall, there is still divine wisdom and benefit in the delay.
Allah ﷻ is:
◈ The Most Knowledgeable.
◈ The Most Wise.
◈ More merciful to His servants than they are to themselves.
Du‘ā’, Acceptance, and Human Attitude
Sometimes a person makes du‘ā’ repeatedly but sees no immediate result, so they lose hope and abandon du‘ā’. The Prophet ﷺ warned against this attitude:
«يُسْتَجَابُ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَعْجَلْ، يَقُولُ: دَعَوْتُ فَلَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لِي»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Da‘awāt, Ḥadīth 2735)
“One’s du‘ā’ will be answered so long as he does not hasten, saying: ‘I made du‘ā’ but it was not answered.’”
Abandoning du‘ā’ out of impatience is extremely dangerous — and we seek Allah’s protection from it.
Benefits of Du‘ā’
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever makes du‘ā’ receives one of three outcomes:
① His du‘ā’ is granted.
② A calamity is averted from him.
③ A reward is stored for him in the Hereafter.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Da‘awāt, Ḥadīth 3573)
Thus, du‘ā’ is always beneficial — it is an act of worship and every word of it is rewarded.
Warning for Those Who Consider Du‘ā’ Unnecessary
Those who claim, “Rain can fall even without making du‘ā’ for it,” should be advised:
- Repent sincerely to Allah ﷻ.
- These words are a major sin.
- They are in direct opposition to Allah’s command.
- This attitude is akin to showing hostility and defiance toward Allah ﷻ.
