The Istisqa Salah: Prayer for Rainfall

This article explains the procedure for the istisqa salah, which is a salah performed to beseech the descent of rain during a prolonged drought.

The istisqa salah is performed in a field after sunrise, with an attitude of humility, devotion, and wearing ordinary clothes full of hope.
The salah is performed with two rak'ahs in congregation without adhan and iqamah, with audible recitation, and can be done with either the salah first then the sermon, or the sermon first then the salah.
During the sermon and supplication, the imam faces the qiblah while raising his hands high and reversing the position of his shawl as a symbol of beseeching a change of circumstances.
The article contains several supplications for seeking rain, including beseeching Allah to send beneficial rain for servants and livestock and to revive the dead land.
After rain falls, it is recommended to prostrate in gratitude or to recite a supplication so that the rain becomes a mercy of benefit, not a disaster.

Istisqa' etymologically means to ask for rain. According to Sharia terminology, the Istisqa salah is a salah whose purpose is to beseech the descent of rain when there is drought due to a prolonged dry season. The Istisqa salah can be performed in two ways: (1) by performing the salah first, then the sermon, or vice versa (2) the sermon first, then the salah with two rak'ahs, then the supplication.

The procedure is as follows:

The Istisqa salah is performed in a field after sunrise

Based on a hadith from 'Aishah:

People complained to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about the delay of rain. Then he commanded that a pulpit be prepared and placed at the prayer area (in the field) and promised to bring them to that place on a certain day. 'Aishah said: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) then went out to that place when the sun was clearly visible,…. Reported by Abu Dawud (al-Salah: 992)

Go to the field with humility and devotion, wearing ordinary clothes full of hope

Based on a hadith from Ibn 'Abbas:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) went out (for the Istisqa salah) with humility, wearing ordinary clothes (everyday clothes), with devotion, slowly, and full of hope. He performed two rak'ahs like the Eid salah, but did not deliver a sermon like your usual sermon. Reported by al-Nasa'i (al-Istisqa: 1504), and Ibn Majah (Iqamat al-Salah wa Sunnatih: 1265)

Perform the Istisqa salah with two (2) rak'ahs in congregation, without adhan and iqamah.

Based on a hadith from Abu Hurayrah:

On one day, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out to perform the Istisqa salah. Then he led us in the salah with two rak'ahs without adhan and iqamah, then he delivered a sermon in the middle of us, and made supplication to Allah, then turned his face towards the qiblah while raising both his hands, then he reversed his shawl, the right to the left and the left to the right. Reported by Ibn Majah (Iqamat al-Salah wa al-Sunnah fiha: 1258) and Ahmad (Remaining Musnad al-Muktsirin: 7977)

The Recitation of the Niyyah for Istisqa Salah (in the heart)

أُصَلِّيْ سُنَّةَ اْلإِسْتِسْقَاءِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ (……..)لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Ushalli Sunnatal Istisqoo-i Rak'ataini (imam/ma'mum) Lillahi Ta'ala.

I intend to perform the optional Istisqa salah with two rak'ahs (as an imam/follower) for Allah, the Most High.

Reciting the salah with audible voice (jahr)

Based on a hadith from 'Abdullah ibn Zayd:

I once saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he went out to perform the istisqa salah; he turned his back facing the people and faced the qiblah while making supplication, then he reversed his shawl, then performed the salah with two rak'ahs with an audible voice in both. Reported by al-Bukhari (al-Jumu'ah: 969), al-Tirmidhi (al-Jumu'ah 'an al-Rasul: 510)

Then he delivered a sermon on the pulpit after the salah with abundant seeking of forgiveness and supplication while facing the qiblah, raising his hands high, then reversing the shawl from right to left and left to right, then the imam turned facing the congregation and came down from the pulpit.
Or delivering the sermon first before performing the salah.

Based on a hadith from 'Aishah:

People complained to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about the delay of rain. Then he commanded that a pulpit be prepared and placed at the prayer area (in the field) and promised to bring them to that place on a certain day. 'Aishah said: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) then went out to that place when the sun was clearly visible, then he sat on the pulpit, recited takbir and praised Allah and said: "You all complain about the dryness of your land, while Allah commands you to make supplication and He promises to answer your request." Then he recited: "All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Ever-Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment." Then he recited: "There is no god but Allah, who does what He wills, O Allah, there is no god but You, You are the Rich and we are the poor, send down rain upon us and make what You have sent down to us a strength and sustenance for a time." Then he raised both his hands while continuing to supplicate until his white armpit showed, then he turned his back to the people and moved his shawl while keeping both his hands raised, then he turned again to face the people, then came down (from the pulpit), then performed the salah with 2 rak'ahs, then at that moment Allah, the Most High, revealed some clouds, then there was the sound of thunder and lightning, then rain fell by the permission of Allah, the Most High. Before he reached the mosque, there was flooding here and there. Seeing the people hastening to take shelter, he laughed so that his molars were visible. He said: "I testify that Allah is all-powerful over all things; and verily I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger." Reported by Abu Dawud (al-Salah: 992)

Or if it is Friday, the imam raises supplication during the sermon, all with raising both hands.

Based on a hadith from Sharik ibn Numair from Anas ibn Malik:

On one Friday, a man entered the mosque from the direction of "Dar al-Qada" when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was standing delivering the sermon. The man stood facing the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah, all wealth has perished and the roads are cut off, so supplicate to Allah to help us." So the Prophet raised both his hands and supplicated: "Help us O Allah, help us O Allah, help us O Allah." Anas said: "By Allah, truly we did not see even a single cloud in the sky (it was clear) there was not a single house or village between us." Anas said: "Then on the next Friday, a man came from the same door and the Prophet was delivering the sermon. The man faced him standing and said: O Messenger of Allah, all wealth has perished and the roads are cut off, so supplicate to us that the rain stop. So the Prophet raised both his hands and then supplicated: O Allah, upon the hills and mounds and in the midst of the valleys and places of vegetation. Then Anas said again: "Then the rain stopped so we walked in the heat of the sun. Sharik said: "I asked Anas, was it the same man as before? He replied: I do not know." Reported by al-Bukhari (al-Jumu'ah: 958) and (Salah Istisqa: 1493)

As for the supplication for the Istisqa salah, it is as follows:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ لَنَا قُوَّةً وَبَلَاغًا إِلَى حِينٍ

Alhamdu lillaahi robbil 'aalamiin, arrohmaanirrohiim, maaliki yaumiddiin, laa ilaaha illalloh, yaf'alu maa yuriid, Alloohumma antallooh laa ilaaha illaa antal ghoniyyu wanahnu fuqoroo-`, anzil 'alainal ghoitsa waj'al maa anzalta lanaa quwwatan wabalaaghon ilaa hiin.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Ever-Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah, who does what He wills. O Allah, You are Allah, there is no god but You, You are the Rich and we are the poor, send down rain upon us and make what You have sent down to us a strength and sustenance for a time. Reported by Abu Dawud (Sunan Abu Dawud, No. 1173)

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ

Alloohummasqi 'ibaadaka wabahaa-imaka wansyur rahmataka wa ahyi baladakal mayyita

O Allah, send down rain for Your servants and Your livestock and spread Your mercy and revive Your dead land.

Based on a hadith from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amrin ibn al-'As:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), when he performed the istisqa salah, would recite "O Allah, send down rain for Your servants and Your livestock and spread Your mercy and revive Your dead land." Reported by Abu Dawud (al-Salah: 994), and Malik (al-Nida' li al-Salah: 403). The wording is from Abu Dawud, although it is originally from Malik.

اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا

Alloohumma aghitsnaa, Alloohumma aghitsnaa, Alloohumma aghitsnaa,

O Allah, help us, O Allah help us, O Allah help us.

Based on a hadith from Anas ibn Malik as follows:

The Prophet Muhammad raised both his hands and then supplicated: "O Allah, help us, O Allah help us, O Allah help us." Reported by al-Bukhari (al-Jumu'ah: 958 and Salah Istisqa: 1493).

And when Allah, the Most High, has sent down rain, then it is recommended to prostrate in gratitude and to glorify or to recite the following supplication:

اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ صَيِّبًا هَنِيْئًا نَافِعًا. اَللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلَا عَلَيْنَا.وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ: مُطِرْنَا بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ

Alloohummaj'alhu shoyyiban hanii-an naafi'an. Alloohumma hawaalainaa walaa 'alainaa, wayaquuluunna : mumthirunaa bifadhlilllaahi warohmatihii

O Allah, make it a gentle and beneficial rain. O Allah, make it fall around us and not upon us. And the people would say: Rain has fallen by the grace and mercy of Allah, the Most High.

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