Offering prayers for rain (salaat al-istisqa’) is a Sunnah, as confirmed by saheeh hadeeths and the practice of the early generations of Islam. 

The Prayer for Rain

Offering prayers for rain (salaat al-istisqa’) is a Sunnah, as confirmed by saheeh hadeeths and the practice of the early generations of Islam. Ibn Qudaamah said: Prayer for rain is a confirmed Sunnah, proven by the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and of his successors.[1]

Abu Dawood (1165), at-Tirmidhi (558), an-Nasaa’i (1506) and Ibn Maajah (1266) narrated that Is-haaq ibn Abdillah ibn Kinaanah said:

al-Waleed ibn ‘Uqbah, who was the governor of Madinah, sent me to ask Ibn ‘Abbaas about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for rain (istisqa’). He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went out wearing modest clothes, walking humbly and beseeching Allah, until he reached the prayer place, where he ascended the minbar, but he did not give a khutbah like this khutbah of yours; rather he continued to offer supplication (du‘aa’), beseech Allah and recite takbeer, then he prayed two rak‘ahs as he used to pray at Eid

Description and recitation

The prayer for rain consists of two rak'ahs, similar to Eid prayer.

In the first rak'ah, and after the takbeer (glorification), Allah-u akbar, and the opening supplication,  takbeer is repeated seven more times, after that, al-Fatihah and another surah are recited. In the second rak[ah the same takbeer is repeated five times other than the takbeer for standing up from sujood before reciting al-Fatihah.

:This is based on the hadith reported by 'A’ishah

Allah’s messenger used to say Allah-u akbar in the Eid prayers of al-Fitr and al-Adha seven times in the first rak[ah and five in the second 

Related by Abu Dawud, hadith No. 1,149

With each takbeer, it is recommended that one raises his hands. Then the imam says silently a'udhu billahi min al-Shaytan al-Rajim (i.e. ‘I seek shelter with Allah against Satan, the accursed.’) He then recites the Qur’an aloud, reciting after al-Fatihah Surah Al A’ala (87) in the first rak[ah and Surah Al Ghashia (88) in the second, as it is reported by Jabir ibn Samurah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did that. It is also authentically reported that he read Surah Qaf (50) in the first rak[ah and Surah Al Qamar (54) in the second

Related by Muslim, hadith No. 891

Though this was for Eid prayers but prayer for rian is identical to it. Therefore, it is good to do this in turn, looking always to make things easier for the congregation.

references

  1. al-Mughni, 2/148


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