The Prophetic Practice
The Prophet (SAW) performed istisqa prayers multiple times, and the accounts are preserved in Bukhari and Muslim:
The Jumu’a account: A man entered the mosque while the Prophet (SAW) was delivering the Friday khutba and said: “O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and the roads are cut off — make du’a to Allah for us.” The Prophet (SAW) raised his hands and prayed for rain. “By Allah, we did not see cloud or shadow in the sky — and between us and the mountain was no building — and a cloud arose like a shield, and when it was in the middle of the sky it spread, then rained. We did not see the sun for a week.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
The following Friday, the same man (or another) came back: “O Messenger of Allah, our houses have caved in and the roads are flooded — make du’a for it to stop.” The Prophet (SAW) raised his hands again: “O Allah, around us and not upon us,” gesturing outward. The rain stopped in Medina and fell elsewhere.
The specific istisqa prayer: Beyond the Jumu’a rain prayer, the Prophet (SAW) also performed a dedicated istisqa gathering — leading the community to an open prayer ground (musalla) outside the city.
How to Perform Salat al-Istisqa
Calling the people together: The imam or leader calls the community to gather — ideally three days of collective repentance and fasting are recommended before the day of istisqa, in some scholarly opinions. On the appointed day, the community gathers.
The place: An open field (musalla) — not the mosque (in some scholarly opinions). The openness emphasizes the community’s vulnerability — they stand under the open sky and ask the Lord of rain.
The preparation: Participants are encouraged to come in simple clothing — no fine dress or jewelry. The Prophet (SAW) went out mutawadi’an mutabadhdhilan mutakhashi’an mutadharri’an — humble, with patched or simple clothing, with humility and suppliance. The outward humility mirrors the inward state.
The prayer: Two rak’at — similar to the Eid prayer in structure:
- First rak’a: 7 takbirs after the opening takbir (or 6 additional)
- Second rak’a: 5 takbirs before the qira’a (or other variations by school)
- Loud recitation
- The imam delivers two khutbas after the prayer (unlike Eid where khutba is after, istisqa has various arrangements)
The reversal of the cloak: The Prophet (SAW) reversed his cloak when ascending the minbar — he placed what was on his right on his left and vice versa. Scholars explain this as: just as the cloak was reversed, so we ask Allah to reverse our situation — the drought reversed to rain, the hardship reversed to ease.
The du’a: Long, heartfelt supplication with hands raised toward the sky — palms facing upward, then at the specific moment of rain supplication, backs of hands toward sky. Du’a includes:
- Acknowledgment of sins and weakness
- Request for forgiveness
- Request for rain sufficient and beneficial, not destructive
- Salawat upon the Prophet (SAW)
The specific du’a narrated: Allahumma asqina, Allahumma asqina, Allahumma asqina “O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain.” (Bukhari)
Allahumma asqi ‘ibadaka wa baha’imaka, wa nshur rahmataka wa ahyi baladaka al-mayyit “O Allah, give water to Your servants and their animals, and spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead land.”
The Theology of Istisqa
Human dependency: Istisqa is the communal acknowledgment that no civilization can sustain itself without divine provision. Rain comes from Allah — it comes when He wills and stops when He wills. The prayer is a collective return to this fundamental truth.
Drought as response to sin: The Quran and hadith connect environmental calamity to community-level wrongdoing: “And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.” (7:96) Istisqa thus combines the request for rain with collective tawba (repentance) — the community acknowledges its collective failings.
The power of collective du’a: Istisqa is a powerful demonstration that communal supplication carries weight the individual prayer may not. When a community gathers in genuine humility and need, the prayer rises collectively.
Istisqa in Historical Memory
The most famous istisqa in Islamic history: when Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) performed istisqa during a severe drought. He went to the grave of the Prophet (SAW) and asked Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle, still alive) to make du’a on behalf of the community. Abbas raised his hands: “O Allah, no calamity descends except through sin, and it does not depart except through tawba. People have come to You turning to You through the Prophet’s uncle — grant us rain.” The sky filled with clouds and the earth was watered.
See also: Understanding Dua, Tawakkul Trust In Allah, Tawba Sincere Repentance, Understanding Namaz, Friday Prayer, Tawhid Divine Unity