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Salat-ul-Istisqa'
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Comment on a symposium on Salat-ul-Istisqa' 
Praise be to Allah Alone, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions, and those who follow his guidance.
We have listened in this blessed symposium to the speeches delivered by Sheikh
Salih Al-Atram, Sheikh
`Abdul-Rahman Al-Barrak, and Sheikh
`Abdul-`Aziz Al-Rajihy on Salat-ul-Istisqa' (Prayer for rain) and its manner. They also mentioned that rain fell heavily in the valleys and abundant goodness took place. I ask Allah to benefit the Muslims from it, make it a blessing, spread it throughout the Muslim lands, send blessed rain to others, rectify our hearts and deeds, and protect us from the evil of our souls and the evil consequences of our deeds.
The Sheikhs have fully explained the manner of offering Salat-ul-Istisqa'. It is Mashru` (Islamically prescribed) to offer Salat-ul-Istisqa' as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did. It is also called Salat-ul-Istighathah (Prayer for seeking help). As the Sheikhs have mentioned, it is to be offered when necessary in times of drought, insufficient rainfall, loss of water, and the dryness of rivers.
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Muslims turn to their Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He) particularly in such situations, and they should turn to His Mercy at all times as all bounties are from Him. Allah (Glorified be He) states:
And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allâh.
Salat-ul-Istisqa' is a great form of `Ibadah (worship) by which Muslims express their frailty and submissiveness to their Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He) and their dire need for His Mercy and Benevolence. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) loves His Servants to show their need for Him, supplicate to Him, show submission, seek His Mercy, and beseech Him (Glorified and Exalted be He). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation).
He (Glorified be He) loves to be invoked and beseeched. He loves His Servants to supplicate, turn, and submit to Him.
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Du`a' (supplication) is a form of `Ibadah and a means to draw close to Allah whether it is accepted or not, as mentioned in the symposium. Du`a' includes much good and many benefits. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
Any Muslim who supplicates to Allah in a Du`a' which contains no sin or severing ties of kinship, Allah will give him one of three things: either his Du’a' will be immediately answered, or it will be saved for him in the hereafter, or it will be a means of warding off an equivalent amount of evil (from him)”. The Companions said “...So we will ask for more.” He replied, “Allah is Most (Generous)."
A man may invoke Allah and his Du`a' may not be answered immediately for a wise reason: to make him submit and supplicate to Allah more and express his need for Him wherein there is great goodness. Also, a person may be guided, his heart and deeds may be rectified, and he may be drawn close to Allah due to his need. A person may be negligent; and when a calamity such as loss of wealth, disease, or oppression by enemies befalls him, he resorts to Allah, supplicates, and submits to Him. Hence, Allah makes him find pleasure in drawing closer and submitting to Him. His calamity may be a reason for his guidance, uprightness of his heart, and drawing close to Allah rather than being astray. He becomes one of those who turn to Allah
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and submit to Him (Glorified and Exalted be He). Du`a' brings innumerable benefits. If they are answered immediately, the servant should thank his Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He) and turn to Him in repentance. If the answer is delayed, this may be due to the sins and mistakes which a person has committed, thus, they should repent to Allah, rectify their affairs, enjoin what is good, and forbid evil so that these sins are replaced with good deeds. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Qur’ân Verse 35:45). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allâh, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.
Allah (Glorified be He) states:
Evil (sins and disobedience to Allâh) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that He (Allâh) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allâh, and begging His Pardon).
We should thank Allah for His Bounties.
We should turn to Allah in times of adversity and prosperity. In times of adversity, man should consider the reasons that have led to difficulties.
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Whether the difficulties afflict people in general or the individual in particular, each person should take account of himself, repent, and return to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) so that He might remove the hardship, disease, loss of wealth, and oppression by enemies, and guide the noisy wife, children, the unfriendly neighbors, etc. A person should turn and resort to Allah, and repent of all sins and mistakes asking Him for guidance, pardon, and forgiveness. This is along with holding oneself accountable and compelling oneself to obey Allah, abstain from His prohibitions, give Allah His due rights, and strive against his soul, as the soul is inclined to evil. Rulers should consider these reasons as well, for they may be the cause of these afflictions. They should consider their obligations and duties and weigh them against their deeds, so that their affairs will be set right in a way that pleases Allah and brings people closer to Him.
The rich should care for paying Zakah (obligatory charity) and abiding by the rights of Allah. All people, rich or poor, or the government should call themselves to account, so that they remain on the right path, perform the rights of Allah, and rectify their affairs in times of
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adversity and prosperity, hardship and ease, and under all conditions. In times of adversity and hardship, people should call themselves to account and repent in order to bring benefit to all people. They should give charity for the poor and the needy, show mercy, kindness, and leniency to them, for Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is Merciful to those who show mercy to others. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy and
The Merciful shows mercy to those who show mercy. Show mercy to those on Earth and the One Who is in Heaven will show mercy to you. If people hasten to repent, regret their evil deeds, refrain from committing misdeeds, strive against their souls, show mercy to the poor and the needy, and the governments on the other hand improve the affairs of the citizens, the rich and the poor, Allah will remove their hardships and replace them with what benefits them. Allah is the Most Generous and Most Kind. He (Glorified be He) states:
Verily, Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh). If people refrain from committing sins and evil deeds,
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sincerely repent, and perform good deeds, Allah will change their state of distress, corruption, and division, unite them in Truth, bestow blessings upon them, send down rain, rectify their affairs, and protect them from their enemies. This is in addition to other blessings that will be granted to them, if they refrain from committing sins and behave in a manner that pleases Him (Glorified and Exalted be He). If the people obey Allah and follow the right path then they commit evil and sins, Allah will punish them. He may postpone the punishment out of His infinite Wisdom. Allah (Glorified be He) states:
Consider not that Allâh is unaware of that which the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He overtakes him, He never releases him. He, then, recited Allah's Statement:
Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe. Allah (Glorified be He) may postpone punishment and grant them respite, then He takes them by surprise. There is neither might nor power except with Allah.
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Allah may grant them respite till the Day of Resurrection and they will continue enjoying bounties as do
the Christians, the Jews, and others. They will be granted many blessings that ultimately lead to their destruction and will die in the worst condition. Hence, they will be punished severely. Some of the ignorant may be deceived by the blessings which are granted to disbelievers; however, no thinking person should be deceived by this because Allah grants respite to them and then takes them by surprise with earthquakes, wars, and the like. He may also postpone their punishment until their death to punish them even more severely. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you. A brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur’ân. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
Consider not that Allâh is unaware of that which the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror. Man should not be deceived by the conditions of the enemies of Allah, as He may grant them many blessings so they increase in sinfulness.
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Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgracing torment. May Allah keep us safe. Allah grants them respite and they increase in sin and receive a disgraceful torment. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. i.e. lose hope in every good thing. A Muslim should not be deceived by blessings such as rivers, rain, gardens, and industries which were granted to the disbelievers. Allah will progressively lead them to destruction according to His perfect wisdom. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is Most Forbearing and All-Wise and has determined wisely when to mete out punishment and when to delay it. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He seizes, He never releases him. He then recited Allah's Statement:
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Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe. The punishment may come immediately as mentioned in the another Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
There is no sin that Allah is more likely to hasten the punishment of for the one who commits it in this world, in addition to what He stores up for them in the Hereafter, than oppression and severing the ties of kinship. Allah may punish the oppressor and those who sever ties of kinship immediately because of their heinous crimes. He may give respite to disbelievers and sinners as part of His perfect Plan which none but He knows. Therefore, a wise person must beware of the punishment and Wrath of Allah, hold himself accountable, and should not be deceived by the disbelievers and the sinners who are granted respite, for Allah is All-Wise and All-Knowing. He has determined wisely when to grant respite and when to punish.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer Salat-ul-Istisqa' during times of severe drought. He (peace be upon him) appointed a day for the people to gather and offer Salat-ul-Istisqa'. On this day, he (peace be upon him) came out when the rim of the sun appeared. He led people in Salah (Prayer), delivered a sermon, supplicated to Allah, and turned his outer garment backwards. He was optimistic and hoped that Allah would
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change the adversity to prosperity. According to the Hadith Mursal (a Hadith with no Companion of the Prophet in the chain of narration) which was narrated on the authority of
Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir, the Prophet (peace be upon him) turned his outer garment backwards when offering Salat-ul-Istisqa' so that the drought would end. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah much, delivered a sermon, and recited Adhkar (invocations), then Allah answered his supplications by bringing a cloud and rain fell immediately by Allah's Grace and Mercy. This was to let the people see that Allah's Mercy is near, to confirm the truthfulness of his (peace be upon him) message, and that he was truly the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who supplicated to Allah and was immediately answered. It rained at once when he (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah in the morning and on Friday as he delivered his sermon. It was authentically reported that:
A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Our means of livelihood is destroyed and we have no means for survival. Please pray to Allah for rain." Hence, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) raised his hands and prayed, 'O Allah! Bless us with rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain." Allah sent clouds and it rained from the time he was at the Masjid and on their way back to their homes. The rain continued till the following Friday causing valleys and hillocks to flow with water. News of rainfall spread everywhere. The next Friday, the same Bedouin, or someone else, said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was delivering the sermon, "O Messenger of Allah! Our means of livelihood is destroyed and our roads are blocked off; please supplicate to Allah to withhold the rain." The Prophet (peace be upon him) smiled at
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the weakness of Bani Adam (human beings), for initially they asked for rain and the following Friday they asked him to supplicate that Allah would withhold it. The Prophet raised his hands and said: "O Allah! Let the rain fall around us and not upon us. O Allah! Pour it down on the pastures, hills, valleys and on the roots of trees." The narrator of the Hadith,
Anas, (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The rain stopped and they went out walking in the sunshine."
This is out of His Bounty. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states,
Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" - and it is! This is a sign of His Great Power and a proof that He has power over all things, for when he intends a thing, He just says to it : "Be!" - and it is. This also confirms the truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah and that he is truly the Messenger whom Allah immediately answered his supplication and it rained, then He withheld it. This is an expression of His Mercy (Glorified and Exalted be He). Muslims should emulate their Prophet (peace be upon him) and supplicate for rain when necessary. They should continue their supplication until it rains, for Du`a' is all good and expresses submission to Allah.
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If it does not rain immediately, it is for a divine reason which only Allah knows. This perhaps might lead them to repent, turn to Allah, increase their good deeds and acts of obedience, and ponder over the reasons for the delayed answer to their supplications. Hence, they will bring themselves to account, return and repent to Allah, and set their affairs right. Allah (Glorified be He) states:
Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is Wise in all His Statements and His Actions. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon before offering Salat-ul-Istisqa' and another Hadith indicates that he (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon after Salah. It is narrated on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn Zayd and Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated for rain and delivered a sermon after Salah. Ibn `Abbas narrated a Hadith indicating that it was in the same form as Salat-ul-`Eid (the Festival Prayer).
It is authentically reported on the authority of
`Abdullah Ibn Zayd and
`Aishah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon before offering Salah. Both views are authentically proven and can be applied, all praise be to Allah. It is permissible to deliver a sermon and then offer Salah and vice versa.
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The matter is flexible and whoever offered it in the same manner of Salat-ul-`Eid, as
Ibn `Abbas said, applied the Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet). It is also in accordance with one of the two Hadiths narrated on the authority of
`Abdullah Ibn Zayd in this regard and the Hadith narrated on the authority of
Abu Hurayrahthat he (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon after offering Salah.
It is also permissible to deliver the sermon before Salah in accordance to the Hadith narrated on the authority of
`Abdullah Ibn Zayd and recorded in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and the Hadith was narrated on the authority of
`Aishah. Both views are in accordance with the Sunnah and are sound, Praise be to Allah.
It is very important to have sincere hearts and to supplicate to Allah humbly. People should gather to offer Salat-ul-Istisqa' with attentive hearts, showing repentance, and return to Allah refraining from sins, hoping for His Mercy, and fearing His Punishment. People should supplicate to Allah much, seek His Forgiveness, and repent to Him. They should wear their ordinary clothes, not new ones such as the case for Salat-ul-`Eid, as they come out to humbly ask Allah for help. Each one should supplicate to Allah on his way to the Masjid (mosque), while sitting in the Masjid, and when saying Amen as the Imam supplicates. A person should hope for the Mercy of Allah
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and seek His Blessings. The rulers, the rich, and all people should repent to Allah sincerely, rectify their affairs, refrain from committing sins, repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) of all sins, establish the Commands of Allah on His Earth, enjoin good and forbid evil. It is Mustahab (desirable) for a Muslim to recite after rain fall:
"Allahumma Sayyiban nafi`an, Mutirna bifadli Allahi wa-rahmatihi (Oh Allah! Provide us with beneficial abundant rain. We are granted rain by Allah’s Bounty and Mercy).”The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught his Ummah (nation) to recite this Du`a' when it rains. It is not permissible to say that the rainfall was due to this star or that calculation of this person was correct. It is worth mentioning that stars do not affect rainfall whether they gather, separate, appear, or eclipse. The motion of the stars depends on Allah's Will. Thus, it is not permissible to say that our rainfall was due to this reason. All this has no basis and the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that this opinion is Kufr (disbelief). It is Wajib upon Muslims to be careful in this regard.
It is also Mustahab for a Muslim to uncover part from his body when it rains so that it touches his body
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as did the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the authentically reported Hadith recorded by Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
It rained upon us as we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah pulled back his garment (from a part of his body) till the rain fell on it. We said, "O Messenger of Allah! Why did you do this?" He replied, "It is because it (the rainfall) has just come from the Exalted Lord." This indicates that it is desirable for a person to uncover part of his body such as his arm or head so that rain touches it as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did.
It is Mashru` for a Muslim to take off his turban or to uncover his arm, leg, or any part of his body which is permissible to reveal before people so that the rain can touch it.
May Allah help us all to acquire beneficial knowledge and perform righteous deeds. May He grant you, all Muslims, and us increased knowledge and success. May He double our reward. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
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