❀ Question:
Where should the Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ (prayer for rain) be performed? Is it necessary to offer it in a forest, or can it be performed in an open ground near residential areas? Guidance is requested on this matter.
❖ Answer by:
Al-ʿĀlim al-Faḍīl Ḥāfiẓ Khidr Ḥayāt (حفظه الله)
◈ Permissible Locations for Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ:
It is permissible to offer Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ in an open field outside the settlement.
However, it is not necessary to go into a forest or remote wilderness for this purpose.
◈ Preferred Method According to the Sunnah:
Based on the Sunnah, it is preferable to offer:
✔ Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ
✔ And Ṣalāt al-ʿĪdayn (Eid prayers)
in an open field away from buildings, similar to how the Prophet ﷺ would pray.
◈ Alternative Arrangements:
If no open field is available:
➤ Then offering the prayer wherever possible — even inside a mosque — is permissible and valid.
Example:
In the Two Holy Sanctuaries (al-Ḥaramayn al-Sharīfayn) — Masjid al-Ḥarām and Masjid al-Nabawī — both Eid and Istisqāʾ prayers are often performed inside the mosques, and this is a permissible and accepted practice.
◈ Summary:
① Open field outside the town is the preferred place for Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ.
② It is not obligatory to perform it in a forest or isolated location.
③ If an open area is unavailable, performing it in any suitable place, including the mosque, is permissible.
