What Is The Dua For Rain? How Is It Made?

What is the dua for rain? How is it made?

The dua made to ask for rain in drought periods is called the dua for rain (istisqa). When the dua for rain will be made, it is mustahab (desirable) to go outside the dwelling unit with community three days in a row and make the dua. It is appropriate for community to give sadaqah to the poor people, for each member of the community to repent and ask forgiveness for their sins, and for those who are on the outs with each other to make peace before the dua . It is mustahab for the community to be humble and destitute and to bring old people, children, and animals with their babies while going to make dua for rain (Zaylai, Tabyin, I, 231).

Everyone turns to qibla while making dua for rain, imam raises his hands up an makes dua by standing and community members also raise their hands and say “ameen” by sitting (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, I, 169).

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, there is no sunnah prayer to be established in dua for rain. However, it is permissible for community members to establish prayer separately.

According to Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, it is mandub (commendable) to establish a two-rakat prayer with community like eid prayer. Adhan is not recited, iqamat is not given, and additional takbirs are not recited in dua for rain . A sermon is delivered after prayer . When the sermon is finished, the imam turns his back to people and they turn to qiblah altogether and ask for rain by also asking for forgiveness (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 282-284).

On the other hand, in Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, there is a two-rakat prayer, which is established by reciting additional takbirs, and sermon like in the eid prayer, in the dua for rain (Nawawi, al-Majmu, V, 74; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, III, 338-339; Jaziri, al-Madhahib al-Arba‘a, I, 325).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA