In Arabic, ‘istisqa’ means seeking rain. In the Islamic Sharia, it refers to supplicating Allah Almighty for rain during times of drought or scarcity. Sound human nature instinctively turns to Allah alone for help and support in times of hardship and need. Allah, the Exalted, says: “Is He [not best] Who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.” [Quran 27:62] And He says: “Say, ‘Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?’” [Quran 67:30] Ibn Kathir commented, “This refers to water that springs forth, flows, and runs upon the earth’s surface. No one can bring this about except Allah Almighty. It is by His grace and generosity that He causes springs to gush forth for you and rivers to flow throughout the various regions of the earth, according to the needs of His servants, whether abundantly or sparingly. To Him belongs all praise and gratitude.”

Among the circumstances in which people turn to Allah for relief is when drought strikes, the land becomes barren, and rain ceases for extended periods. Our Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prescribed for us the Salat Al-Istisqa (Prayer for Rain), a prayer through which we beseech Allah Almighty, the One Who holds the power to provide, for mercy and relief in the form of rain.

The Prophetic biography contains numerous accounts of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) teaching Salat Al-Istisqa. One such instance occurred during Ramadan in the sixth year after the Hijrah (Emigration). At that time, the people were experiencing a severe drought, and the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) led them in prayer for rain, which resulted in rainfall. This was the first Salat Al-Istisqa performed by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). is the following was narrated by Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her):

The people complained to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) about the lack of rain. He ordered a pulpit to be placed for him in the prayer area (musalla), an open space outside the mosque. He set a specific day for the people to gather for the prayer. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emerged when the first rays of sunlight appeared. He sat on the pulpit, glorified and praised Allah, and then said, “You have complained about the drought in your land and the delay of rain at its appointed time. Allah, the Almighty, has commanded you to supplicate to Him and has promised to answer you.” He then said, “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, Who does what He wills. O Allah, You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship except You. You are the Rich [beyond need], and we are the poor. Send down upon us rain that will relieve us and save us from destruction. Make what You send down a source of strength and sustenance for a time.” Then he raised his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits became visible. He turned his back to the people, reversing his cloak (turning its inner side outward and its outer side inward) while still raising his hands. He then faced the people, descended from the pulpit, and prayed two units of prayer. Allah then caused a cloud to form, which thundered and flashed with lightning, and it began to rain by Allah’s will. He did not return to the mosque until streams of water were flowing (indicating the abundance and swiftness of the rain). When he saw the people hurrying for shelter from the rain, he laughed until his molars were visible. Then he said, “I bear witness that Allah is over all things competent, and I am Allah’s servant and Messenger.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and graded as sound by Al-Albani]

The prayer for rain (Salat Al-Istisqa) is a strongly encouraged Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah), to be performed when rain is needed. It is performed in the same manner as the Eid prayer, based on the narration reported by Abu Dawud, Ahmad, and others, and graded as sound by Al-Albani, from Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said, “The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) went out in humble attire, displaying humility (not dressed in finery, but rather in a manner reflecting submission), walking calmly and supplicating earnestly (in a state of deep supplication and persistence in his prayer). He prayed two units of prayer as he prayed on the day of Eid.”

The phrase “as he prayed on the day of Eid” refers to the manner of the Eid prayer regarding the number of units of prayer and reciting aloud. It is recommended for the imam to increase seeking forgiveness, earnestly supplicating Allah, and raising his hands in prayer. It is also recommended for the imam to reverse his cloak, as the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did, as a sign of hope for a change in the situation for the better and in anticipation that Allah will relieve the drought and grant rain by His grace and mercy. Abdullah Ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, “The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) went out to the prayer area (musalla) to perform the prayer for rain. He faced the qiblah (direction of prayer) prayed two units of prayer, and reversed his cloak.” [Al-Bukhari]

In Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud by Al-Ayni, it is stated, “We mentioned that the wisdom behind reversing the cloak is hope for a change in circumstances, and this is explicitly mentioned in Mustadrak Al-Hakim in the hadith of Jabir, which he authenticated, stating, ‘He reversed his cloak so that the drought might turn into abundance.’” In Sharh Mishkat Al-Masabih by Al-Mubarakfuri, it is noted, “At-Tabarani narrated from the hadith of Anas with the wording, ‘He reversed his cloak so that the drought might turn into prosperity.’ I say that the reasoning of hope does not contradict its recommendation during the supplication for rain in the open area, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is more deserving of being followed.”

Salat Al-Istisqa does not have a prescribed time. Ibn Qudamah stated, “There is no designated time for the prayer for rain; however, it is not performed during the prohibited times, with scholarly consensus, as its permissible time is broad. After the prayer, the imam delivers a sermon, including exhortation and guidance for the people, and supplicates to the Creator, Exalted is He, for rainfall.” Imam An-Nawawi noted, “It is not restricted to a specific time; rather, it is permissible and valid at any time, day or night, except during the disliked times, according to one opinion. This is the explicit position of As-Shafi‘i, upheld by the majority and confirmed by the scholars.”

Ibn Al-Qayyim stated in Zad Al-Ma‘ad, Chapter on the Prophet’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Guidance regarding Istisqa:

It is established that he performed Istisqa in several ways. First, he performed it on a Friday during his sermon from the pulpit. Second, he designated a day for the people to gather at the musalla (prayer area). When the sun rose, he emerged humbly, without adornment, in a state of fear, pleading, and supplication. Upon reaching the musalla, he ascended the pulpit, praised and glorified Allah, and magnified Him. His sermon and supplication included the following, “All praise is [due] to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. There is no deity except Allah; He does what He wills. O Allah, You are Allah; there is no deity except You; You do what You will. O Allah, You are Allah; there is no deity except You. You are the Self-Sufficient, and we are the needy. Send down rain upon us and make what You send down a source of strength and sustenance for a time.” He then raised his hands, supplicating and beseeching Allah, extending them until the whiteness of his underarms was visible. He then turned his back to the people, faced the qiblah, and reversed his cloak while facing the qiblah—placing the right side on the left and the left side on the right. He continued supplicating, facing the qiblah, along with the people. Then, he descended and led them in two units of prayer, similar to the Eid prayer, without adhan (call to prayer) or iqamah (call to commence prayer). Third, he performed Istisqa from the pulpit in Medina on a day other than Friday, but no prayer is recorded on that occasion. Fourth, he performed Istisqa while sitting in the mosque, raising his hands and supplicating to Allah, Exalted is He. Fifth, he performed Istisqa near the Stones of Zayt, close to Az-Zawra’, outside the mosque gate known today as Bab As-Salam. Sixth, he performed Istisqa during a battle when the polytheists had reached the water source before him, leaving the Muslims thirsty. They complained to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). A hypocrite remarked, “If he were a true prophet, he would pray for rain for his people, as Moses did.” When this reached him, he said, “Did they say that? Perhaps your Lord will provide you with water.” He then raised his hands in supplication, and before lowering them, clouds gathered, rain fell, and they were relieved. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was answered in every instance. When the rain became excessive, the people asked him to pray for relief (Istisqa for removal), and he supplicated, “O Allah, [send it] around us and not upon us. O Allah, [send it] upon the hills, the mounds, the mountains, the valleys, and the places of vegetation.”

Important Note:

Sins and disobedience are among the factors contributing to drought and the withholding of rain. This is evident in the hadith of Abdullah Ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

O Emigrants, five trials will befall you, and I seek refuge in Allah that you live to witness them: Indecency will not become prevalent among a people to the point that they practice it openly, except that plagues and diseases unknown to their predecessors will spread among them. They will not cheat in weights and measures except that they will be afflicted with famine, severe hardship, and oppressive rulers. They will not withhold Zakat from their wealth except that rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall upon them. They will not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger except that Allah will empower their enemies over them, seizing some of what they possess. And their leaders will not govern according to the Book of Allah, selectively applying His revelation, except that Allah will cause them to fight amongst themselves. [Narrated by Ibn Majah and At-Tabarani, and graded as authentic by Al-Albani].

The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was mindful of natural phenomena. For example, when a strong wind blew, he would ask Allah, the Exalted, for its blessings and seek refuge from its harm. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported, “Whenever a strong wind blew, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would say, ‘O Allah, I ask You for its good, the good within it, and the good it brings, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil within it, and the evil it brings.’” [Muslim] Upon hearing thunder, he would say, “O Allah, do not kill us with Your wrath, nor destroy us with Your punishment, but spare us before that.” [Ahmad] When he saw clouds and wind, he would react with concern and supplication. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported, “Whenever the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saw clouds or wind, his concern was visible. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, when people see clouds, they rejoice, hoping for rain. But when you see them, I see concern on your face.’ He replied, ‘O Aishah, how can I be certain they do not bring punishment? A people were punished by the wind, and another people saw the punishment and said, “‘This is a rain cloud!”’” [Al-Bukhari]

He would perform the eclipse prayer during solar and lunar eclipses. In times of drought, he would perform the prayer for rain (Salat Al-Istisqa), doing so on numerous occasions. The Ummah has learned from his noble hadiths and blessed life how to perform this and other prayers and acts of worship, as well as Islamic rulings, laws, values, and morals. Thus, the Prophetic biography remains, throughout time and across generations, a guiding light for Muslims, illuminating their path and leading them towards happiness in this life and the Hereafter, until Allah inherits the earth and all who dwell upon it.