162 / The Supplication for Rain

Allah has ordained for His servants that when their lands become barren, rainfall diminishes, and drought strikes, they should turn to prayer, supplication, and seeking forgiveness. He has declared that He never disappoints a servant who supplicates to Him, nor turns away a believer who calls upon Him. Whoever calls upon Him sincerely and turns to Him with persistence will have his hopes fulfilled, his supplication answered, and his request granted. He—Glorified is He—says: “When My servants ask you about Me, I am indeed near. I answer the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided.” 1 He—Glorified is He—has instructed His servants, when rain is withheld from them, to seek His forgiveness for the sins because of which the rain has been held back and the rainfall withheld.

He—Glorified is He—related that His prophets and messengers, peace be upon them, would encourage their peoples and urge them to repent and seek forgiveness. They would explain that this is one of the means by which supplications are answered, rain descends, good things abound, and blessings spread through wealth and children. Thus, He related that Noah said to his people: “I said, ‘Seek forgiveness from your Lord; He is indeed ever forgiving. He will send abundant rain down upon you, increase you in wealth and children, and provide you with gardens and rivers.’” 2 He also related that Hūd said: “O my people, seek forgiveness from your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send abundant rain down upon you and add strength to your strength. Do not turn away as evildoers.” 3 Allah Most High also says: “Had the people of the towns believed and been mindful of Allah, We would surely have opened up for them blessings from