The Book of Praying for Rain (Al-Istisqa')

Chapter 1Chapter: When should the imam pray for rain

Authentic No. 1504

"A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the livestock have died and the routes have been cut off; pray to Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed to Allah (SWT) and it rained from that Friday until the next. Then a man came to…

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْجِبَالِ وَالآكَامِ وَبُطُونِ الأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَانْجَابَتْ عَنِ الْمَدِينَةِ انْجِيَابَ الثَّوْبِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 4 other versions

Chapter 2Chapter: The imam going out to the prayer place to pray for rain

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1505

"Sufyan said: 'I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi Bakr who said: I heard it from Abbad bin Tamim who narrated it from his father, that 'Abdullah bin Zaid, who was shown the call to prayer (in a dream) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to the prayer place to pray for rain. He faced the kiblah and…

خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى يَسْتَسْقِي فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَقَلَبَ رِدَاءَهُ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd + 6 other versions

Chapter 3Chapter: The recommended condition for the imam to be in if he goes out

Good (hasan) No. 1506

His father said: "So and so sent me to ask him how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for rain (Istisqa')." He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out beseeching and humble, (dressed) in a state of humility. He did not give a Khutbah like this Khutbah of yours, and he prayed two rak'ahs.'"

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُتَضَرِّعًا مُتَوَاضِعًا مُتَبَذِّلاً فَلَمْ يَخْطُبْ نَحْوَ خُطْبَتِكُمْ هَذِهِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Authentic No. 1507

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for rain wearing a black khamisah.

اسْتَسْقَى وَعَلَيْهِ خَمِيصَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 4Chapter: The imam sitting on the minbar to pray for rain

Good (hasan) No. 1508

His father said: "I asked Ibn 'Abbas how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for rain. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out (dressed) in a state of humility, beseeching and humble. He sat on the minbar but he did not deliver a Khutbah like this Khutbah of yours, rather he kept supplicating…

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُتَبَذِّلاً مُتَوَاضِعًا مُتَضَرِّعًا فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمْ يَخْطُبْ خُطْبَتَكُمْ هَذِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَالتَّضَرُّعِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَصَلَّى…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 8 other versions

Chapter 5Chapter: The imam turning his back to the people when supplicating during prayers for rain

Authentic No. 1509

His paternal uncle had told him that he went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to pray for rain. He turned his rida' around, and turned his back to the people, then he prayed two rak'ahs and recited loudly.

يَسْتَسْقِي فَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ وَحَوَّلَ لِلنَّاسِ ظَهْرَهُ وَدَعَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقَرَأَ فَجَهَرَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 6Chapter: The imam turning his rida' around when praying for rain

Differing grades No. 1510

The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain, and prayed two rak'ahs, and turned his rida' around.

اسْتَسْقَى وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَقَلَبَ رِدَاءَهُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 7Chapter: When should the imam turn his rida' around?

Differing grades No. 1511

He heard Abbad bin Tamim said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out and prayed for rain, and he turned his rida' around when he turned to the Qiblah."

فَاسْتَسْقَى وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ حِينَ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd + 8 other versions

Chapter 8Chapter: The imam raising his hands

Authentic No. 1512

He saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when he prayed for rain, turn to face the Qiblah, turning his cloak around and raising his hands.

فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَقَلَبَ الرِّدَاءَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 9Chapter: How to raise the hands

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1513

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not raise his hands during any supplication except when praying for rain, when he used to raise his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen."

لاَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلاَّ فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُرَى بَيَاضُ إِبْطَيْهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 16 other versions

Authentic No. 1514

He saw the Messenger of Allah at Ahjar Az-Zait praying for rain and raising his hands, making supplications.

يَسْتَسْقِي وَهُوَ مُقْنِعٌ بِكَفَّيْهِ يَدْعُو ‏.‏

Narrated by Abī al-Lahm + 2 other versions

Differing grades No. 1515

"While we were in the masjid on Friday and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was addressing the people, a man stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the routes have been cut off, our wealth has been destroyed and prices have gone up. Pray to Allah (SWT) to give us rain.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)…

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا نَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ حَتَّى أُوسِعْنَا مَطَرًا وَأُمْطِرْنَا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ - لاَ أَدْرِي…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Chapter 10Chapter: The supplication

Authentic No. 1516

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allahumma sqina (O Allah, give us rain)."

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1517

"The Prophet (ﷺ) was delivering the Khutbah one Friday when the people stood up and shouted: 'O Prophet of Allah! There has been no rain and the animals have died. Pray to Allah (SWT) to send us rain.' He said: 'O Allah, send us rain; O Allah, send us rain.' By Allah (SWT), we could not see even a…

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةً مِنْ سَحَابٍ - قَالَ - فَأَنْشَأَتْ سَحَابَةٌ فَانْتَشَرَتْ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا أُمْطِرَتْ وَنَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 17 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1518

A man entered the masjid when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing and delivering the Khutbah. He turned to face the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) standing and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and the routes have been cut off. Pray to Allah (SWT) to send us rain.' The…

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَنَسٌ وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ مِنْ سَحَابَةٍ وَلاَ قَزَعَةٍ وَمَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ سَلْعٍ مِنْ بَيْتٍ وَلاَ دَارٍ فَطَلَعَتْ سَحَابَةٌ…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 17 other versions

Chapter 11Chapter: Prayer after the supplication

Authentic No. 1519

"Abbad bin Tamim told me that he heard his paternal uncle, who was one of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out one day to pray for rain. He turned his back toward the people, praying to Allah (SWT), and he turned to face the Qiblah. He turned his…

فَحَوَّلَ إِلَى النَّاسِ ظَهْرَهُ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ الْقِبْلَةَ وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 12Chapter: How many (rak'ahs) are there in the prayer for rain (Salat Al-Istisqa')?

Differing grades No. 1520

The Prophet (ﷺ) went out to pray for rain, and he prayed two rak'ahs facing the Qiblah. (Sahih

خَرَجَ يَسْتَسْقِي فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd

Chapter 13Chapter: How is the prayer for rain performed?

Good (hasan) No. 1521

His father said: "One of the governors sent me to Ibn Abbas to ask him about the prayer for rain. He said: 'What kept him from asking me? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out humbly, (dressed) in a state of humility, submissiveness and beseeching, and he prayed two rak'ahs as in the Eid prayer, but…

فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَمَا يُصَلِّي فِي الْعِيدَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَخْطُبْ خُطْبَتَكُمْ هَذِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 8 other versions

Chapter 14Chapter: Reciting Qur'an loudly for the prayer for rain

Authentic No. 1522

The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and prayed for rain, then he prayed two rak'ahs in which he recited loudly.

خَرَجَ فَاسْتَسْقَى فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَهَرَ فِيهِمَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Zayd + 1 other version

Chapter 15Chapter: What to say when it rains

Authentic No. 1523

When it rained the Messenger of Allah would say: "Allahummaj'alhu Sayyiban nafi`a. (O Allah, make it beneficial rain)."

إِذَا أُمْطِرَ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Chapter 16Chapter: It is Makruh to attribute rain to the stars

Authentic Hadith qudsi No. 1524

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: I have never sent down My favor to My slaves but a group of them became disbelievers who say; "The stars and by stars.'"

"‏ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَى عِبَادِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ إِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ بِهَا كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ الْكَوْكَبُ وَبِالْكَوْكَبِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions

Authentic Hadith qudsi No. 1525

"It rained during the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: 'Have you nt heard what your Lord said this night? He said: I have never sent down any blessing upon My slaves but some of them become disbelievers thereby, saying: 'We have been given rain by such and such a star.' As for the one who…

"‏ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ قَالَ مَا أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَى عِبَادِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ إِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ بِهَا كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ مُطِرْنَا بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَمَّا مَنْ…

Narrated by Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani + 1 other version

Weak No. 1526

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If Allah (SWT) were to withhold rain from His slaves for five years and then send it, some of the people would become disbelievers, saying: "We have been given rain by the star of Al-Mijdah."

"‏ لَوْ أَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمَطَرَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ خَمْسَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهُ لأَصْبَحَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ سُقِينَا بِنَوْءِ الْمِجْدَحِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 1 other version

Chapter 17Chapter: Imam asking for rain to be stopped if he fears that it may cause harm

Authentic No. 1527

"There was no rain for a year, so some of the Muslims went to the Prophet (ﷺ) one Friday and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there has been no rain; the land has become bare and our wealth has been destroyed.' He raised his hands, and we did not see any cloud in the sky. He stretched forth his hands…

فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَمَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ سَحَابَةً فَمَدَّ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ بَيَاضَ إِبْطَيْهِ يَسْتَسْقِي اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - قَالَ - فَمَا صَلَّيْنَا الْجُمُعَةَ حَتَّى أَهَمَّ الشَّابَّ الْقَرِيبَ…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 2 other versions

Chapter 18Chapter: Imam raising his hands when asking for rain to stop

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 1528

"There was a drought during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). While the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was giving the Khutbah on the minbar one Friday, a Bedouin stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah wealth has been destroyed and our children are hungry; pray to Allah for us.' The Messenger of…

فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ وَمَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةً وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا وَضَعَهَا حَتَّى ثَارَ سَحَابٌ أَمْثَالُ الْجِبَالِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَنْ مِنْبَرِهِ حَتَّى…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 17 other versions