Salat al-Istisqa: Causes of Drought and Method of Prayer

Excerpt Source

This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh an-Nabī ﷺ, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz.

Description of Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’​

Why Does Drought Occur?​

❀ Drought—meaning the absence of rainfall—is a divine punishment. Among its causes are cheating in weights and measures and not paying zakāh.

❀ Despite sins, rainfall occurs due to animals. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لم ينقصوا المكيال والميزان إلا أخذوا بالسنين وشدة المؤونة وجور السلطان عليهم ولم يمنعوا الزكاة إلا منعوا القطر من السماء ولولا البهائم لم يمطروا

“When a people reduce (and cheat in) the measure and the scale, they are punished with years of drought, severe hardship, and the ظلم (oppression) of their ruler over them. And when people withhold zakāh, rain is withheld from the sky; and were it not for the animals, they would certainly not be given rain.”

Reference: al-Mustadrak (al-Ḥākim): 4/540, ḥadīth: 8623 – Isnādahu ḥasan li-dhātihi (Ḥafṣ bin Ghaylān ṣadūq, and the majority declared him trustworthy)

What Should Be Done During Drought?​

❀ The Sharīʿah has also informed of deeds by which Allah’s anger is removed, His mercy is stirred, and rain descends, for example:

① Seeking forgiveness and making istighfār. Allah the Exalted says:

فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا

Reference: Nūḥ: 10–11

“So I said: Seek forgiveness from your Lord—indeed He is ever Forgiving. He will send the sky upon you with abundant rain.”

② Adopting taqwā and fearing Allah. Allah the Exalted says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

Reference: al-Aʿrāf: 96

“If the people of the towns had believed and adopted taqwā, We would surely have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”

③ Implementing the Qur’an and Sunnah in society. Allah the Exalted says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ

Reference: al-Mā’idah: 66

“If they had established the Torah, the Gospel, and what was revealed to them from their Lord, they would surely have eaten from above them and from beneath their feet.”

④ Giving charity as much as possible, because charity removes Allah’s anger. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned the incident of a man from Banī Isrā’īl who would divide the produce of his orchard into three portions: one he spent on the orchard, the second he kept for household expenses, and the third he gave in the path of Allah—due to which a cloud would rain specifically to irrigate his orchard.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Zuhd, Bāb faḍl al-inفاق ʿalā al-masākīn wa ibn al-sabīl: 2984

⑤ Then one should supplicate to Allah for rain with humility and brokenness. Today Muslims supplicate for rain and perform Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, yet rain does not come—because we supplicate but are not prepared to change ourselves and abandon sins. It is necessary to remove the root causes of the problem first.

Ways of Seeking Rain​

❀ There are two ways of seeking rain: (1) supplication, and (2) performing prayer, which is called Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’.

Occasions for Supplicating for Rain​

❀ When Muslims need rain, they should supplicate to Allah for it. Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه said:

“A bedouin man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on Friday while he was delivering the sermon and said: O Messenger of Allah! The livestock have perished, families have suffered, and people are in distress—so supplicate to Allah to send rain upon us. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his hands and began supplicating, and the people also raised their hands along with him ﷺ.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-nās aydiyahum maʿa al-imām fī al-istisqā’: 1014, 1029 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 897

❀ At the time of need, one may supplicate for rain at any time. Sayyidunā Kaʿb bin Murrah رضي الله عنه said: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate to Allah for rain.” So he ﷺ raised his hands and began supplicating.

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb iqāmat al-ṣalawāt, Bāb mā jā’a fī al-duʿā’ fī al-istisqā’: 1269 – al-Mustadrak (al-Ḥākim): 1/328, ḥadīth: 1226

❀ It is better to supplicate for rain during the Friday sermon, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated during the Friday sermon upon a man’s request.

Method of the Supplication of Istisqā’​

❀ It is permissible to supplicate individually for rain, as mentioned above.

❀ It is also permissible to supplicate collectively, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated upon the minbar during the sermon and the people supplicated with him.

❀ It is also permissible to ask a righteous person to supplicate for rain, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated at the request of a Companion.

❀ Hands should be raised in Istisqā’ until the armpits become visible. Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه said:

رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرفع يديه فى الدعاء حتى يرى بياض إبطيه

“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raising his hands in supplication until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn bi al-duʿā’ fī al-istisqā’: 895

Supplications of Istisqā’​

❀ The following supplications are established for Istisqā’. Any of them may be recited:

① اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا

“O Allah! Give us rain. O Allah! Give us rain. O Allah! Give us rain.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-istisqā’ fī al-masjid al-jāmiʿ: 1013

② اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا مَرِيعًا نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ

“O Allah! Give us rain—beneficial, relieving, wholesome, nurturing, useful and not harmful; soon and not delayed.”

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn fī al-istisqā’: 1169 – Ṣaḥīḥ

③ اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ

“O Allah! Give drink to Your servants and Your animals, spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead (barren) land.”

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn fī al-istisqā’: 1176 – Ḥasan

④ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ لَنَا قُوَّةً وَبَلَاغًا إِلَى حِينٍ

“All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy, Master of the Day of Recompense. There is no deity except Allah; He does whatever He wills. O Allah! You are Allah—there is no deity except You. You are Self-Sufficient and we are needy. Send down rain upon us, and make what You send down for us strength and provision until a time.”

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn fī al-istisqā’: 1173 – Ḥasan

Time of Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’​

❀ The time for Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ is shortly after sunrise. Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: People complained of drought before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so by his command a minbar was placed at the prayer-ground and he appointed a day for the people to come out. On that day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out when the sun had already risen. He sat on the minbar, praised Allah and glorified Him, then began supplicating with the duʿā’ mentioned above. Then he raised his hands until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen, turned his back to the people while standing, and turned his cloak around, then faced the people, descended, and led them in two rakʿahs.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn fī al-istisqā’: 1173 – Ḥasan

Where Should Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ Be Performed?​

❀ Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ should be performed in an open field outside the populated area, as mentioned in the above ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.

Etiquettes of Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’​

❀ All people should gather for Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn fī al-istisqā’: 1173

❀ One should go out wearing old clothing, in a state of humility and lowliness. Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:

خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم متبدلا متواضعا متضرعا

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out for Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ wearing old clothes, humble, and supplicating earnestly.”

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb jamāʿ abwāb ṣalāt al-istisqā’ wa tafrīʿihā: 1165 – al-Tirmidhī: 558 – al-Nasā’ī: 1507 – Ḥasan

❀ There is no adhān and no iqāmah for Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-duʿā’ fī al-istisqā’ qā’iman: 1022

❀ First, the Imām should sit on the minbar and deliver a sermon containing praise of Allah and acknowledgment of one’s weakness and helplessness, as in the ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.

❀ Then, facing the Qiblah, the Imām should turn his cloak around, as in the ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها, and the people should also turn their cloaks with him.

Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 4/41, ḥadīth: 16579 – Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 676 – Ḥasan

There are two ways to turn the cloak:

① With the right hand, from behind the waist, hold the lower left edge of the cloak; and with the left hand, from behind the waist, hold the lower right edge, then turn it so that the right side becomes left, the left becomes right, the upper becomes lower and the lower becomes upper.

② If this is difficult, then hold the left edge from above the neck with the right hand, and hold the right edge from above the neck with the left hand, then turn it so that the right side comes onto the left shoulder and the left side comes onto the right shoulder.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’, Bāb jamāʿ abwāb ṣalāt al-istisqā’ wa tafrīʿihā: 1163–1164 – Ṣaḥīḥ

The meaning of turning the cloak is that Allah changes our condition in the same manner.

❀ Then the Imām should lead the supplication (details above).

❀ In Istisqā’, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would supplicate with the backs of his hands facing the sky.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb rafʿ al-yadayn bi al-duʿā’ fī al-istisqā’: 896

❀ The supplication should be made while standing and facing the Qiblah, as in the ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.

Method of Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’​

❀ Then two rakʿahs of Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ are performed.

❀ The recitation in Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ is out loud (jahrī). ʿAbbād bin Tamīm narrates from his uncle:

صلى ركعتين يجهر فيهما بالقراءة

“He ﷺ performed two rakʿahs in which he recited aloud.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-jahr bi al-qirā’ah fī al-istisqā’: 1024

❀ Ṣalāt al-Istisqā’ is two rakʿahs like the Eid prayer. Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:

صلى ركعتين كما يصلي فى العيد

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed two rakʿahs in Istisqā’ as he performs in the Eid prayer.”

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb jamāʿ abwāb ṣalāt al-istisqā’ wa tafrīʿihā: 1165 – al-Tirmidhī: 558 – al-Nasā’ī: 1509 – Ḥasan

Supplication When It Rains​

❀ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw rain, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا

“O Allah! Make it a beneficial rain.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb mā yuqāl idhā umṭirat: 1032

Bathing in Rainwater​

❀ Rainwater is blessed, and bathing in it is Sunnah. Anas رضي الله عنه said:

“Once we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when it began to rain. He ﷺ removed his outer garment until the rain fell upon him. We asked: Why did you do that? He ﷺ said:

لأنه حديث عهد بربه عز وجل

“Because it has just now come from its Lord, the Mighty and Majestic.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-duʿā’ fī al-istisqā’: 898

Supplication for Stopping Excessive Rain​

❀ If rain becomes excessive and turns into hardship, it is Sunnah to say:

اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلَا عَلَيْنَا اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى الْآكَامِ وَالطَّرَابِ وَبُطُونِ الْأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ

“O Allah! Around us and not upon us. O Allah! Upon the hills, the mountains, the valleys, and the places where trees grow.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-istisqā’ fī khuṭbat al-jumuʿah ghayr mustaqbil al-qiblah: 1014 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 897

Seeking Refuge From Harmful Winds​

❀ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:

“When signs of wind (or storm) appeared, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would change color, and in anxiety he would go in and out. When rain began, he would become pleased. Once I asked the reason, so he ﷺ said: ‘I fear that it may be like the cloud of the people of ʿĀd…’”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 899

❀ When he ﷺ would see the wind, he would recite:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ

“O Allah! I ask You for its good, the good within it, and the good with which it was sent; and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil within it, and the evil with which it was sent.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb al-taʿawwudh ʿinda ru’yat al-rīḥ: 899

Supplicating for Drought Against Disbelievers​

❀ Since drought is Allah’s punishment, it is permissible to supplicate for drought against disbelievers and enemies of the religion. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate against the enemies of the religion with these words:

اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى مُضَرَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ

“O Allah! Intensify Your punishment upon Muḍar. O Allah! Make their years like the years of Yūsuf (i.e., send upon them a drought like that one).”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istisqā’, Bāb duʿā’ al-nabī ﷺ …: 1006

The name of one’s present-day enemy should be mentioned in place of Muḍar.