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The Method of Performing Salaatul Istisqaa PDF Print E-mail
SALAAH.. The Book of Prayer - Salatul Istisqa [Drought]

The Method of Performing Salaatul Istisqaa

Q: Salaah-308: What is the method of performing Salaatul Istisqaa (the salaah to beseech Allaah for rain)?

Answer: If there is a not-too-urgent need for rain, du'aa for rain may be made after the salaahs and during the Jumu'ah Khutbah. However, when the need is intense, the servants of Allaah need to sincerely repent to Allaah, if there is no Muslim leader, the Imaam, Mufti or Judge whom the Muslims look up to should address them and invoke them to repent and especially to ensure that they fulfil the rights they owe to each other.

He should also encourage them to spend in Sadaqah. They must then be asked to fast for three days and on the fourth day every man, woman, elder, youngster, child, ill and healthy Muslim should proceed to a field outside town. They should all dress simply, fill their hearts with fear of Allaah, acknowledge their sins and earnestly regret them. They must have hope in the mercy of Allaah and be convinced that their du'aa will be accepted.

When the Imaam reaches the place for salaah, he must perform two Rakaahs salaah without any Adhaan or lqaamah. He should recite Surah A'laa audibly in the first Rakaah and Surah Ghaashiya in the second. It is best if he recites Surah Qaaf in the first Rakaah and Surah Qamar in the second. Just as is done in the Eid salaah, he will then deliver two Khutbahs, after which he should face the Qibla and, as a good omen, he should turn upside down the shawl that he is wearing. This is done by placing the hands behind the back and holding the right corner of the shawl with the left and hand the left corner with the right hand. Thereafter, he will then pull it in a manner that the right corner ends up on the right shoulder and the left corner on the left shoulder. If the shawl is square, the top of the shawl will become the bottom and vice versa. If it is rounded, the right side should be on the left and' the left on the right.

After this, the Imaam should remain standing and, with upturned hands and outstretched arms, he should make du'aa in all earnestness and humility. The followers should also hold their hands up like him and weep as they say 'Aameen' to his du'aas.
Du'aas reported in the Ahadeeth for the occasion are:

" O Allaah! There is none worthy of worship but You Who are the lndependent while we are beggars before You. Send rain to us and make it a " means of strength for us that would benefit us for a long time."

?O Allaah! send to us rain that is abundant, that will greatly assist us,pleasant, sooking , beneficial, not destructive, immediate and not delayed.

?O Allaah! Provide water for Your servants and mute animals, spread Your mercy and bring Your dead land back to life'"

If one does not know these du'aas by memory, it may be said in any language. This procedure should be carried out for three days with fasting and giving sadaqah if possible. The three days should be completed even if rain falls in between.2 And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2