When rain refuses to come, a simple question often arises: What is the prayer for rain?
According to the guidance of Muhammadiyah Tarjih, several supplications are based on reports from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These prayers are not only for times of drought. When rain falls too heavily and begins to pose dangers, the Prophet also taught a prayer asking that the rain be redirected to places where it can do good.
In other words, istiqsa is not simply about asking for rain. It is about asking for rain that comes as a mercy.
Prayers for Asking for Rain
In the Tarjih Decision of the 20th Muhammadiyah National Congress in Garut in 1976, one of the supplications recommended when asking for rain is:
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا طَبَقًا مَرِيعًا غَدَقًا عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ رَائِثٍ
“O Allah, send down upon us rain that brings relief, refreshes, spreads widely, nourishes the land, falls abundantly, and comes soon without delay.”
This prayer is brief, but its meaning is comprehensive. It does not simply ask for water to fall from the sky. The rain is sought as ghayth, or rain that brings relief, refreshes, spreads widely, nourishes the land, falls abundantly, and arrives without delay.
Another supplication included in the discussion of the khutbah istiqsa is:
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ، وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ، وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ، اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا مَرِيعًا نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ، عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ
“O Allah, give water to Your servants and Your animals, spread Your mercy, and revive Your land that has become barren. O Allah, send down upon us rain that brings relief, refreshes, nourishes, benefits and does not harm, and comes soon without delay.”
This prayer reveals the broad meaning of istisqa. Rain is sought for people, animals and lands that have become dry. It is also sought as a form of mercy that brings benefit without causing harm.
The Prophet’s Prayer during Drought
A lengthy hadith narrated by ‘A’ishah describes how people once appealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during a drought. He then went out to the prayer ground and supplicated:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَلِكِ 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
“Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah. He does whatever He wills. O Allah, You are Allah; there is no god but You. You are Self-Sufficient, while we are needy. Send down rain upon us and make what You send down a source of strength and sustenance for us for a long time.”
What is striking about this prayer is how it begins with praise of Allah, followed by an affirmation of tawhid, or the oneness of God, and then an acknowledgment of the human condition as one of need.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، الْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ
“O Allah, You are Allah; there is no god but You. You are Self-Sufficient, while we are needy.”
Only then does the supplication turn to the request itself:
أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ
“Send down rain upon us.”
The structure of the prayer shows that istisqa is not simply a request for something. It begins by recognizing who Allah is and who human beings are.
When the Rain Becomes Too Heavy
What if the rain has already come, but is falling too heavily?
The Prophet’s guidance also provides a prayer for such circumstances. The Tarjih Decision includes:
اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلَا عَلَيْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى الْآكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ، وَبُطُونِ الْأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ
“O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us. O Allah, let it fall upon the hills, highlands, valleys, and places where trees grow.”
This prayer highlights an important principle: Islam does not teach people to ask for rain indiscriminately. What is sought is rain that comes at the right time and place, brings benefit, and does not cause destruction.
Prayers in the Khutbah Istiqsa
In the guidance concerning the khutbah istisqa, supplication is also an important part of the sermon. After the sermon, the imam increases his istighfar, or prayers for forgiveness, and supplications. The imam then raises both hands and faces the qiblah, turning his back toward the congregation.
Therefore, asking for rain does not have to wait until the salat istisqa, or special prayer for rain, is performed. According to Tarjih guidance, prayers for rain may be offered individually or collectively. When offered collectively, the imam may supplicate in a mosque, outside a mosque, or during the Friday sermon. The congregation may also raise their hands and follow the supplication.
In other words, when drought strikes, Muslims have broad opportunities to pray. Salat istisqa is one form of worship for this purpose, but prayers for rain may also be offered without performing the special prayer.
Asking for Rain that Brings Benefit
Across these supplications, one pattern stands out. The Prophet did not simply teach people to say, “O Allah, send down rain.” What is sought is rain that comes as a mercy, nourishes the land, gives water to people and animals, revives dry lands, and does not cause harm.
One of the shorter supplications that can be remembered is:
اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا مَرِيعًا نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ، عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ
“O Allah, send down upon us rain that brings relief, refreshes, nourishes, benefits and does not harm, and comes soon without delay.”
This prayer may be recited when people are in need of rain. When rainfall becomes excessive, however, the prayer can shift toward asking that the rain be directed away from places at risk and toward places where it can bring benefit.
That is where the meaning of istisqa becomes clear. People ask for water, but what they ultimately seek is Allah’s mercy through water that sustains life.
Wallahu a‘lam bish-shawab.
Reference
This article is based on a copy of the Tarjih Decision of the 20th Muhammadiyah National Congress in Garut in 1976, Berita Resmi Muhammadiyah No. 76, 1977, and the discussion “Khutbah Istisqa’” in Suara Muhammadiyah No. 5, Year 84/1999.
