How to pray Salat-Al-Istisqa for rain?

Whenever there was drought or a shortage of rain, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer Salat-Al-Istisqa praying for the rainfall from Allah. Salat-al-Istisqa is offered when there are any of the following conditions;

• Drought.
• Scarcity of Rain.
• The water level in the river is low.
• Water reservoirs are drying.

When to offer Salat-Al-Istisqa?

A specific day should be announced for rain prayers so that people can gather for it.

The rain prayer shall be observed (recommended) after sunrise. It shall be observed when the sun is at the length of the spear. This is about 20 minutes of sunrise.

Where to offer the prayer of rain?

The prayer of rain shall be offered preferably on the ground and not inside the mosque. It is also a sunnah to go to the prayer wearing modest clothes, walking humbly and in a lower manner.

• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went out to offer the Istisqa’ prayer. – Sahih al-Bukhari 1005 
• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went out beseeching and humble, (dressed) in a state of humility.  – Sunan an-Nasa’i 1506

How to offer Salat-Al-Istisqa?

Salat-al-Istisqa is a 2 rakah sunnah prayer offered in the following way. It is more like praying the Eid prayer;

1- There is no Adhan or Iqamah for rain prayers.

2- Make the intention to perform Salat-al-Istisqa.

3- Give the opening takbeer (‘Allahu Akbar’) with the imam.

4- Say the opening supplication quietly to yourself.

5- In the first Rakat, there would be 7 Takbeer. After 1^st takbeer, 6 more takbeer should be said before starting the prayer

6- The Imam will recite Surah Fatiha along with another Surah loudly. 

• Should we recite Sura Fatiha behind Imam?

7- In the second rakat there should be 5 takbeerat. The takbeerat should be said at the start of the second rakat after you get up offering Sajda.

8- Unlike Eid prayers, there is no Khutbah (sermon) at the end of rain prayers. – Sunan an-Nasa’i 1506

9- The imam faces Qiblah and turns his cloak inside out as Prophet Muhammad ﷺ turned his cloak inside out on Istisqa while supplicating to Allah. – Sahih al-Bukhari 1011

Istisqa Dua

Aisha رضي الله عنها associated the following dua for Istisqa;

• الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ملك 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
• Sunan Abi Dawud 1173

Translation: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah Who does what He wishes. O Allah, You are Allah, there is no deity but You, the Rich, while we are the poor. Send down the rain upon us and make what You send down a strength and satisfaction for a time.

Dua for the rainfall

According to Sunnah, one shall go out in rain and allow the rain to touch the body. – Sahih Muslim 898

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited these 3 duas at different occasions when it rained;

اللَّهُمَّ صيبا نَافِعًا – O Allah, may it be a beneficial rain cloud. – Mishkat al-Masabih 1500

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَحْىِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ – O Allah, provide water for Your servants and Your cattle, spread out Your mercy and resurrect Your dead land. – Sunan Abi Dawud 1176

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا مَرِيعاً نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ عَاجِلاً غَيْرَ آجِلٍ – O Allah, send upon us helpful, wholesome and healthy rain, beneficial not harmful rain, now, not later. – Sunan Abi Dawud 1169