How Is the Prayer for Rain (Salat Al-Istisqa’) Performed?
Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
How is the prayer for rain (Salat al-Istisqa’) performed?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Salat al-Istisqa’ is a prayer prescribed when there is a lack of rain or the drying up of water sources. It is a recommended practice (sunna) when its cause becomes apparent. [al-Fiqh al-Manhaji ‘ala Madhhab al-Imam al-Shafi‘i]
There is no known disagreement among those who affirm the prayer for rain that it consists of two units of prayer (rak‘atayn). However, the scholars have differed regarding its manner of performance, with two main opinions:
The First Opinion: Shafi‘i’s and Hanbalis
According to the Shafi‘i and Hanbali Schools, it is performed as two units of prayer, with seven additional takbirs (saying “Allahu Akbar”) in the first unit and five in the second, similar to the Eid prayer. [Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni; Nawawi, al-Majmu‘; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Kasani, Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘ ]
This is based on the narration from Ja‘far Ibn Muhammad, from his father: “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), Abu Bakr, and ‘Umar used to perform the prayer for rain, saying seven takbirs in the first unit and five in the second.” [Abd al-Razzak; Tartib Musnad al-Shafi‘i]
The Second Opinion: Maliki
According to the Maliki School, it is performed as two units of prayer like any supererogatory (nafl) or voluntary prayer. [Dardir, al-Sharh al-Saghir]
This is based on the narration from ‘Abdullah Ibn Zayd: “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) prayed for rain with two units of prayer.” [Bukhari; Mulism]
A similar narration is related from Abu Hurayra without mentioning any additional takbirs, so it is treated as a regular prayer.
The various schools of thought agree that the recitation in Salat al-Istisqa’ should be done aloud, and one may recite any Quranic chapters. However, it is preferable to recite the chapters that are typically recited in the Eid prayer. Some have said to recite Suras Qaf and Nuh, or Suras al-A‘la and al-Ghashiya, or Suras al-A‘la and al-Shams.
We ask Allah to bless us with His mercy and favor us with His generosity and kindness. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
