7 supplications
Salat al-Istisqa: Prayers for Rain
When people complained of drought, the Prophet ﷺ went out humbly to the prayer place, gave a sermon, raised his hands high and turned his cloak. The duas he made ask for beneficial rain for people, animals and the land.
Asking for rain
اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا
Allahumma aghithna, Allahumma aghithna, Allahumma aghithna.
O Allah, send us rain; O Allah, send us rain; O Allah, send us rain.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
The dua of the rain sermon
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، مَالِكِ 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
Alhamdu lillahi rabbil-‘alamin, ar-rahmanir-rahim, maliki yawmid-din, la ilaha illallahu yaf‘alu ma yurid. Allahumma antallahu la ilaha illa ant, al-ghaniyyu wa nahnul-fuqara’, anzil ‘alaynal-ghayth, waj‘al ma anzalta lana quwwatan wa balaghan ila hin.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement; there is no god but Allah, who does what He wills. O Allah, You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Rich, while we are the poor. Send down rain upon us and make what You send down a strength and provision for a time.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud
For abundant, beneficial rain
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا، مَرِيئًا مَرِيعًا، نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ، عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ
Allahummasqina ghaythan mughitha, mari’an mari‘a, nafi‘an ghayra darr, ‘ajilan ghayra ajil.
O Allah, give us rain that relieves, wholesome and fertile, beneficial and not harmful, soon and not late.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud
Rain for people and animals
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ، وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ، وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ
Allahummasqi ‘ibadaka wa baha’imak, wanshur rahmatak, wa ahyi baladakal-mayyit.
O Allah, give water to Your servants and Your animals, spread Your mercy and revive Your dead land.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; al-Muwatta’ of Malik
On seeing gathering clouds
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min sharriha.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from its evil. He would stop his work, then praise Allah if it rained.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah
When it rains
اللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا
Allahumma sayyiban nafi‘a.
O Allah, (make it) a beneficial rain.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
After the rain
مُطِرْنَا بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ
Mutirna bi-fadlillahi wa rahmatih.
We have been given rain by the grace and mercy of Allah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
How the rain prayer is performed
The Prophet ﷺ went out in humble clothes to the prayer place, prayed two rak‘ahs and gave a khutbah in which he made much du‘a, raising his hands until the whiteness of his armpits showed, then turned his cloak inside out (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Repentance, charity and leaving injustice are among the causes of rain.
Salat al-Istisqa: Prayers for Rain: questions and answers
Can I ask for rain in the Friday khutbah?
Yes, the Prophet ﷺ did so when a Bedouin complained of drought (al-Bukhari).
What if the rain becomes harmful?
Say “Allahumma hawalayna wa la ‘alayna” as the Prophet ﷺ did (al-Bukhari).