Chapter: Rulings on the Rain-Seeking Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Istisqāʾ)

Here, istisqāʾ means asking Allah, Exalted is He, to send rain. Human beings are naturally inclined to turn for help to the One who rescues them—and that is Allah alone. The practice was known among former nations and belongs to the living traditions of the prophets, upon them be peace. Allah says, “And when Moses prayed for water for his people” (Q 2:60). Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the Seal of the Prophets, also sought rain for his community on several occasions and in various ways, and the Muslims are unanimously agreed on its legitimacy.

Istisqāʾ is prescribed when the land becomes barren—when rain is withheld and people suffer harm. At such times they must humble themselves before their Lord, beseech Him for rain, and implore His relief through different forms of supplication: sometimes by performing a special prayer, whether in congregation or alone; sometimes during the Friday sermon, when the preacher supplicates and the congregation affirms with “āmīn”; and sometimes by supplicating after the obligatory prayers or in private, without a distinct prayer or sermon. All of these modes are authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

The rain-seeking prayer is an emphatically recommended sunnah. ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd narrated: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went out to seek rain; he faced the qiblah, made supplication, turned his cloak inside out, and then prayed.”