What Did Our Prophet (PBUH) Do for Rain? How to Recite the Rain Prayer?
Once, a complaint was made to our Prophet (PBUH) about the lack of rain. Upon this, Rasoolullah requested that a pulpit be brought. This pulpit was set up in the area where Friday prayers, Eid prayers, and funeral prayers (musallaa) were performed. A date was determined for people to gather there. The Pride of Creation -peace and blessings be upon him-, as soon as the redness of the sun appeared on the horizon, set out. Upon arriving at the musallaa, he sat on the pulpit.
HOW TO PERFORM THE RAIN PRAYER?
After reciting Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) and praising Allah, he recited the following supplication:
“You complained that your land was suffering from drought, and that the rain was delayed from its natural time. Allah -Glorified and Exalted be He- commands you to supplicate and promises to respond to your supplication.”
Then he recited this supplication:
“All praise is due to the Lord of the Worlds, the Most Merciful, the Very Merciful. The Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah, He does what He wills. O our Lord! You are Allah, there is no deity besides You. You are the Rich and we are the poor. Send rain upon us. Make what you send us strength and power. Suffice us with it for a certain period!”
After saying this, he raised his hands upward. He raised them so high that the whiteness beneath his armpit was visible. Then he turned his back to the people, reversed his garment, while his hands remained raised upwards. Afterwards, he turned back to the people. He descended from the pulpit and performed two rak’ahs of prayer. Allah Almighty immediately sent His clouds. Thunder roared, lightning flashed. With Allah’s permission, it began to rain. The Pride of Creation -peace and blessings be upon him- Our Prophet, before returning to his mosque, streams flowed. When the Messenger of Allah observed the haste of the congregation in seeking shelter, he smiled and said:
“I bear witness that Allah is All-Powerful and that I am His servant and Messenger.” (Abu Dawood, Istiskaa, 2/1173)
Our Prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- performed the “Istisqa Prayer” when asking Allah Almighty for rain, thus approaching Him with a voluntary prayer to have the supplication accepted.