Rain-Seeking Prayer (Istisqa) with Two Rak‘ahs and Sermon Is Sunnah During Drought Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❀ Linguistic Clarification of Istisqa
The word "Istisqā" (الاِسْتِسْقَاء) is derived from the form اسْتَفْعَلَ - يَسْتَسْقِي meaning “to ask for water or request rain.”
References: Al-Qāmūs Al-Muḥīṭ, p. 1166; Al-Munjid, p. 381❀ Shar‘i Definition of Istisqa
In Islamic jurisprudence, Istisqa refers to seeking rain from Allah ﷻ through a specific method during a time of drought.
References: Fatḥ al-Bārī: 3/179; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/645✿ Warning Regarding Sins That Prevent Rainfall
◈ It is narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Any people who cheat in weights and measures will be afflicted with drought; and those who do not give Zakat are deprived of rain from the sky. If it were not for the animals, no rain would be sent upon them.”
Hasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 3246, Kitāb al-Fitan; al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 106; Ibn Mājah: 4019; Ḥākim: 4/540
Authenticated by Ḥāfiẓ Abū al-Zinīrī, Ṣafwah al-Zujajah: 3/246, Shaykh Muḥammad Ṣaghīr Ḥallāq also graded it Hasan. Taʿlīq ʿalā Sabil al-Salām: 3/265
Sunnah Practice of Performing Istisqa Prayer
➊ Narration of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها)
When the people complained to the Messenger ﷺ about the drought, he instructed that a pulpit be set up in the Eid prayer ground. He promised a day on which everyone would come out.
When the sun rose slightly, the Prophet ﷺ came out and sat on the pulpit. He then delivered a sermon, made supplications, and raised his hands gradually until the whiteness of his armpits was visible. He then faced the Qiblah, turned his cloak inside out while raising his hands, then descended the pulpit and led a two-rakʿah prayer. At that moment, clouds gathered, thundered, flashed, and rain fell.
Hasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1040; Abū Dāwūd: 1173; Ḥākim: 1/328; Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār: 1/325; Bayhaqī: 3/349➋ Narration of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما)
The Prophet ﷺ came out in a humble, simple garment, full of humility, submission, and concentration, and led the people in two rakʿahs like the Eid prayer, without delivering a regular sermon. Instead, during the sermon he engaged in supplication, praise of Allah, and expressed deep emotion.
Hasan: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 459; Abū Dāwūd: 1165; Tirmidhī: 555; Ibn Mājah: 1266; Nasāʾī: 3/156; Aḥmad: 1/230; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1405; Bayhaqī: 3/437; Dārquṭnī: 2/68; Ḥākim: 1/326; Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/473➌ Narration of Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ once came out to perform Ṣalāt al-Istisqā. He led them in two rakʿahs without Adhān or Iqāmah, then delivered a sermon and prayed to Allah. While raising his hands, he turned to face the Qiblah, and turned his cloak, placing the right side on the left, and the left on the right.
Ḍaʿīf: Ibn Mājah: 1268; Aḥmad: 2/362; Bayhaqī: 3/347➍ Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ, when supplicating for rain, would raise his hands towards the sky with the palms facing down (inverted position).
Muslim: 896, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā➎ Narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ led the people in two rakʿahs and recited aloud (Jahri Qirā’ah) in both.
Bukhārī: 1024; Muslim: 894; Abū Dāwūd: 1161; Tirmidhī: 553; Nasāʾī: 3/164; Ibn Mājah: 1267; Aḥmad: 4/39; Dārimī: 1/361; Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār: 1/326➏ Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ did not raise his hands in any supplication except in Ṣalāt al-Istisqā.
Bukhārī: 1031; Muslim: 6/896✔ Key Rulings Derived from These Ahadith
① Istisqa prayer is prescribed during drought.
② One should go out in a state of humility and submission.
③ The prayer should be held in an open field.
④ It consists of two rakʿahs.
⑤ A sermon (khutbah) is part of this practice.
⑥ The khutbah may precede or follow the prayer.
⑦ Supplication with raised hands is Sunnah.
⑧ The palms should face downward during the du‘ā’.
⑨ The Imam faces the Qiblah and turns his cloak inside out.
⑩ The Imam recites aloud in the prayer.
⑪ No Adhān or Iqāmah is prescribed for this prayer.
Despite these clear proofs, there is some difference of opinion regarding its legitimacy:
Majority of scholars (Jumhūr): This prayer is legislated.
Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله): Did not consider this prayer legislated.
Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله): Stated that no one except Abū Ḥanīfah disagreed on the legitimacy of this prayer.
Sabil al-Salām: 2/499; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/649
Content of the Khutbah
The sermon should include:
- Remembrance of Allah
- Encouragement towards obedience
- Warning against sins
- Collective repentance and supplication for relief from drought
✿ Evidence from the Qur'an
➊ As mentioned in the previous narrations, the Prophet ﷺ included supplications during the khutbah.
➋ Allah ﷻ states:
﴿فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا – يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا﴾
[Surah Nūḥ: 10–11]
"(Prophet Nūḥ said to his people): Seek forgiveness from your Lord, indeed, He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance."
Based on this verse, Imam Hasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) used to advise people to perform Istighfār when they complained of drought. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) once ascended the pulpit to perform Istisqā, and recited only those verses that mention seeking forgiveness. Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 6/314; Tafsīr Aḥsan al-Bayān: p. 1634➌ Allah also says:
﴿وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا﴾
[Surah Hūd: 3]
"Seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance, and He will grant you a good provision."
➡ These verses clearly indicate that abundant Istighfār is the divine solution for drought, poverty, and distress.
