The Prayer for Seeking Rain (Salat Al-Istisqa)
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 80
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 80
The Prayer for Seeking Rain (Salat Al-Istisqa)
18 hadiths · 1 commentary
رَوَى عَبْدُ اَلرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِذَا فَشَتْ أَرْبَعَةٌ ظَهَرَتْ أَرْبَعَةٌ إِذَا فَشَا اَلزِّنَى ظَهَرَتِ اَلزَّلاَزِلُ وَ إِذَا أُمْسِكَتِ اَلزَّكَاةُ هَلَكَتِ اَلْمَاشِيَةُ وَ إِذَا جَارَ اَلْحُكَّامُ فِي اَلْقَضَاءِ أُمْسِكَ اَلْقَطْرُ مِنَ اَلسَّمَاءِ وَ إِذَا خُفِرَتِ اَلذِّمَّةُ نُصِرَ اَلْمُشْرِكُونَ عَلَى اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ.
Abdul Rahman ibn Kathir narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام who said: "When four things become widespread, four other things will appear: when fornication spreads, earthquakes will manifest; when Zakat (charity) is withheld, livestock will perish; when rulers act unjustly in judgments, rain will be withheld from the sky; and when agreements and covenants are broken, the polytheists will gain victory over the Muslims."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِذَا غَضِبَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى أُمَّةٍ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُنْزِلْ بِهَا اَلْعَذَابَ غَلَتْ أَسْعَارُهَا وَ قَصُرَتْ أَعْمَارُهَا وَ لَمْ يَرْبَحْ تُجَّارُهَا وَ لَمْ تَزْكُ ثِمَارُهَا وَ لَمْ تَغْزُرْ أَنْهَارُهَا وَ حُبِسَ عَنْهَا أَمْطَارُهَا وَ سُلِّطَ عَلَيْهَا أَشْرَارُهَا.
It is narrated from The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم that He said: "When Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, becomes angry with a nation but does not send punishment upon it, the prices of goods rise, their lifespans become shorter, their traders do not profit, their fruits do not flourish, their rivers do not flow abundantly, rain is withheld from them, and their wicked people are given authority over them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ خَرَجَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مَعَ أَصْحَابِهِ لِيَسْتَسْقِيَ فَوَجَدَ نَمْلَةً قَدْ رَفَعَتْ قَائِمَةً مِنْ قَوَائِمِهَا إِلَى اَلسَّمَاءِ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا خَلْقٌ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ لاَ غِنَى بِنَا عَنْ رِزْقِكَ فَلاَ تُهْلِكْنَا بِذُنُوبِ بَنِي آدَمَ فَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِأَصْحَابِهِ اِرْجِعُوا فَقَدْ سُقِيتُمْ بِغَيْرِكُمْ.
Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام that He said: "One day, Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) عليه السلام went out with his companions to pray for rain (Istisqa). He saw an ant raising one of its legs towards the sky, saying, 'O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we are a creation among Your creations. We are not in need of anything except Your provision, so do not destroy us due to the sins of the children of Adam.' Solomon عليه السلام then said to his companions, 'Return, for you have been granted rain due to someone other than yourselves.'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى حَفْصُ بْنُ اَلْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِنَّ اَللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وتَعَالَى إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَ بِالْمَطَرِ أَمَرَ اَلسَّحَابَ فَأَخَذَ اَلْمَاءَ مِنْ تَحْتِ اَلْعَرْشِ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يُرِدِ اَلنَّبَاتَ أَمَرَ اَلسَّحَابَ فَأَخَذَ اَلْمَاءَ مِنَ اَلْبَحْرِ» قِيلَ إِنَّ مَاءَ اَلْبَحْرِ مَالِحٌ قَالَ «إِنَّ اَلسَّحَابَ يُعْذِبُهُ.
Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari narrated from Him عليه السلام that He said: "When Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, wishes to bring benefit through rain, He commands the clouds to take water from beneath the Throne. But when He does not intend for vegetation to grow, He commands the clouds to take water from the sea." It was said: "But sea water is salty." Imam عليه السلام said: "The clouds purify it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى سَعْدَانُ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ قَطْرَةٍ تَنْزِلُ مِنَ اَلسَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ وَ مَعَهَا مَلَكٌ يَضَعُهَا اَلْمَوْضِعَ اَلَّذِي قُدِّرَتْ لَهُ.
Sa'dan narrated from him عليه السلام that He said: "There is no drop of rain that falls from the sky except that there is an angel accompanying it, placing it precisely in the location that has been decreed for it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَا أَتَى عَلَى أَهْلِ اَلدُّنْيَا يَوْمٌ وَاحِدٌ مُنْذُ خَلَقَهَا اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلاَّ وَ اَلسَّمَاءُ فِيهَا تَمْطُرُ فَيَجْعَلُ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Not a single day has passed for the people of the world since Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious, created it, except that the sky sends down rain, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious, places it wherever He wills."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَا خَرَجَتْ رِيحٌ قَطُّ إِلاَّ بِمِكْيَالٍ إِلاَّ زَمَنَ عَادٍ فَإِنَّهَا عَتَتْ عَلَى خُزَّانِهَا فَخَرَجَتْ فِي مِثْلِ خَرْقِ اَلْإِبْرَةِ فَأَهْلَكَتْ قَوْمَ عَادٍ وَ مَا نَزَلَ مَطَرٌ قَطُّ إِلاَّ بِوَزْنٍ إِلاَّ زَمَنَ نُوحٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَإِنَّهُ عَتَا عَلَى خُزَّانِهِ فَخَرَجَ فِي مِثْلِ خَرْقِ اَلْإِبْرَةِ فَأَغْرَقَ اَللَّهُ بِهِ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "No wind has ever blown except with a measure, except in the time of the people of ‘Aad, when it became rebellious against its keepers and emerged like the eye of a needle, destroying the people of ‘Aad. And no rain has ever fallen except with a measure, except in the time of Noah عليه السلام, when it became rebellious against its keepers and emerged like the eye of a needle, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى drowned the people of Noah with it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اَلسَّحَابُ غِرْبَالُ اَلْمَطَرِ لَوْ لاَ ذَلِكَ لَأَفْسَدَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ».
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "The clouds are the sieve of the rain; without that, it would ruin everything it falls upon”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سَأَلَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلرَّعْدِ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ يَقُولُ قَالَ «إِنَّهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ فِي اَلْإِبِلِ فَيَزْجُرُهَا هَايْ هَايْ كَهَيْئَةِ ذَلِكَ» قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا حَالُ اَلْبَرْقِ فَقَالَ «تِلْكَ مَخَارِيقُ اَلْمَلاَئِكَةِ تَضْرِبُ اَلسَّحَابَ فَيَسُوقُهُ إِلَى اَلْمَوْضِعِ اَلَّذِي قَضَى اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ اَلْمَطَرَ.
Abu Basir asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the thunder, saying, "What does it say?" Imam عليه السلام said: "It is like a man among the camels who drives them, saying 'Hai, Hai,' just as it is." I asked: "May I be your ransom, what about the lightning?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Those are the whips of the angels striking the clouds, driving them to the place where Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious, has decreed the rain to fall."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اَلرَّعْدُ صَوْتُ اَلْمَلَكِ وَ اَلْبَرْقُ سَوْطُهُ.
Imam عليه السلام said: "The thunder is the voice of the angel, and the lightning is his whip."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ اَلرَّعْدَ صَوْتُ مَلَكٍ أَكْبَرَ مِنَ اَلذُّبَابِ وَ أَصْغَرَ مِنَ اَلزُّنْبُورِ فَيَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ سَمِعَ صَوْتَ اَلرَّعْدِ أَنْ يَقُولَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ «يُسَبِّحُ اَلرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَ اَلْمَلاٰئِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ» »
It is narrated: "The thunder is the sound of an angel that is larger than a fly and smaller than a wasp. When one hears the sound of thunder, it is recommended to say, 'Glory be to the One whom the thunder praises with His praise and (so do) the angels out of fear of Him.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «جَاءَ أَصْحَابُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ غَارَ مَاءُ اَلنِّيلِ وَ فِيهِ هَلاَكُنَا فَقَالَ اِنْصَرِفُوا اَلْيَوْمَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ اَللَّيْلِ تَوَسَّطَ اَلنِّيلَ وَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى اَلسَّمَاءِ وَقَالَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَجِيءَ بِالْمَاءِ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ فَجِئْنَا بِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ اَلنِّيلُ يَتَدَفَّقُ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The people of Pharaoh came to him and said, 'The water of the Nile has dried up, and this will lead to our destruction.' Pharaoh replied: 'Leave it for today.' When night fell, he went to the middle of the Nile, raised his hands to the sky, and said: 'O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, You know that I know that none has the power to bring the water except You. So, bring it to us.' By morning, the Nile was flowing abundantly."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِذَا اِسْتَسْقَى قَالَ « اَللَّهُمَّ اِسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَ بَهَائِمَكَ وَ اُنْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ أَحْيِ بِلاَدَكَ اَلْمَيْتَةَ » يُرَدِّدُهَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ.
Whenever the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم prayed for rain (Salat al-Istisqa'), he would say: Allahumma isqi ‘ibadaka wa baha’imaka wa unshur rahmataka wa ahyi biladaka al-maytah "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, provide water to Your servants and Your animals, spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead land." He would repeat this three times.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي اَلاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَقَالَ «اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَابِغِ اَلنِّعَمِ وَ مُفَرِّجِ اَلْهَمِّ وَ بَارِئِ اَلنَّسَمِ اَلَّذِي جَعَلَ اَلسَّمَاوَاتِ لِكُرْسِيِّهِ عِمَاداً وَ اَلْجِبَالَ لِلْأَرْضِ أَوْتَاداً وَ اَلْأَرْضَ لِلْعِبَادِ مِهَاداً وَ مَلاَئِكَتَهُ «عَلىٰ أَرْجٰائِهٰا» وَ حَمَلَةَ اَلْعَرْشِ عَلَى أَمْطَائِهَا وَ أَقَامَ بِعِزَّتِهِ أَرْكَانَ اَلْعَرْشِ وَ أَشْرَقَ بِضَوْئِهِ شُعَاعَ اَلشَّمْسِ وَ أَجْبَأَ بِشُعَاعِهِ ظُلْمَةَ اَلْغَطْشِ، وَ فَجَّرَ «اَلْأَرْضَ عُيُوناً» وَ «اَلْقَمَرَ نُوراً» وَ اَلنُّجُومَ بُهُوراً ثُمَّ عَلاَ فَتَمَكَّنَ وَ خَلَقَ فَأَتْقَنَ وَ أَقَامَ فَتَهَيْمَنَ فَخَضَعَتْ لَهُ نَخْوَةُ اَلْمُتَكَبِّرِ وَ طَلَبَتْ إِلَيْهِ خَلَّةُ اَلْمُتَمَسْكِنِ، اَللَّهُمَّ فَبِدَرَجَتِكَ اَلرَّفِيعَةِ وَ مَحَلَّتِكَ اَلْمَنِيعَةِ وَ فَضْلِكَ اَلسَّابِغِ وَ سَبِيلِكَ اَلْوَاسِعِ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا دَانَ لَكَ وَ دَعَا إِلَى عِبَادَتِكَ وَ وَفَى بِعَهْدِكَ وَ أَنْفَذَ أَحْكَامَكَ وَ اِتَّبَعَ أَعْلاَمَكَ عَبْدِكَ وَ نَبِيِّكَ وَ أَمِينِكَ عَلَى عَهْدِكَ إِلَى عِبَادِكَ اَلْقَائِمِ بِأَحْكَامِكَ وَ مُؤَيِّدِ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ وَ قَاطِعِ عُذْرِ مَنْ عَصَاكَ اَللَّهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ مُحَمَّداً أَجْزَلَ مَنْ جَعَلْتَ لَهُ نَصِيباً مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَ أَنْضَرَ مَنْ أَشْرَقَ وَجْهُهُ بِسِجَالِ عَطِيَّتِكَ وَ أَقْرَبَ اَلْأَنْبِيَاءِ زُلْفَةً يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ عِنْدَكَ وَ أَوْفَرَهُمْ حَظّاً مِنْ رِضْوَانِكَ وَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ صُفُوفَ أُمَّةٍ فِي جِنَانِكَ كَمَا لَمْ يَسْجُدْ لِلْأَحْجَارِ وَ لَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ لِلْأَشْجَارِ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَحِلَّ اَلسِّبَاءَ وَ لَمْ يَشْرَبِ اَلدِّمَاءَ اَللَّهُمَّ خَرَجْنَا إِلَيْكَ حِينَ أَجَاءَتْنَا اَلْمَضَايِقُ اَلْوَعْرَةُ وَ أَلْجَأَتْنَا اَلْمَحَابِسُ اَلْعَسِرَةُ وَ عَضَّتْنَا اَلصَّعْبَةُ عَلاَئِقُ اَلشَّيْنِ وَ تَأَثَّلَتْ عَلَيْنَا لَوَاحِقُ اَلْمَيْنِ وَ اِعْتَكَرَتْ عَلَيْنَا حَدَابِيرُ اَلسِّنِينَ وَ أَخْلَفَتْنَا مَخَايِلُ اَلْجَوْدِ وَ اِسْتَظْمَأْنَا لِصَوَارِخِ اَلْعَوْدِ فَكُنْتَ رَجَاءَ اَلْمُبْتَئِسِ، وَ اَلثِّقَةَ لِلْمُلْتَمِسِ نَدْعُوكَ حِينَ قَنَطَ اَلْأَنَامُ وَ مُنِعَ اَلْغَمَامُ وَ هَلَكَ اَلسَّوَامُ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ عَدَدَ اَلشَّجَرِ وَ اَلنُّجُومِ وَ اَلْمَلاَئِكَةِ اَلصُّفُوفِ وَ اَلْعَنَانِ اَلْمَكْفُوفِ أَنْ لاَ تَرُدَّنَا خَائِبِينَ وَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذَنَا بِأَعْمَالِنَا وَ لاَ تُحَاصَّنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا وَ اُنْشُرْ عَلَيْنَا رَحْمَتَكَ بِالسَّحَابِ اَلْمُتْئِقِ وَ اَلنَّبَاتِ اَلْمُونِقِ وَ اُمْنُنْ عَلَى عِبَادِكَ بِتَنْوِيعِ اَلثَّمَرَةِ وَ أَحْيِ بِلاَدَكَ بِبُلُوغِ اَلزَّهَرَةِ وَ أَشْهِدْ مَلاَئِكَتَكَ اَلْكِرَامَ اَلسَّفَرَةَ سُقْيَا مِنْكَ نَافِعَةً دَائِمَةً غُزْرُهَا وَاسِعاً دَرُّهَا سَحَاباً وَابِلاً سَرِيعاً عَاجِلاً تُحْيِي بِهِ مَا قَدْ مَاتَ وَ تَرُدُّ بِهِ مَا قَدْ فَاتَ وَ تُخْرِجُ بِهِ مَا هُوَ آتٍ اَللَّهُمَّ اِسْقِنَا غَيْثاً مُغِيثاً مُمْرِعاً طَبَقاً مُجَلْجِلاً مُتَتَابِعاً خُفُوقُهُ مُنْبَجِسَةً بُرُوقُهُ مُرْتَجِسَةً هُمُوعُهُ وَ سَيْبُهُ مُسْتَدِرٌّ وَ صَوْبُهُ مُسْبَطِرٌّ لاَ تَجْعَلْ ظِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا سَمُوماً وَ بَرْدَهُ عَلَيْنَا حُسُوماً وَ ضَوْءَهُ عَلَيْنَا رُجُوماً وَ مَاءَهُ أُجَاجاً وَ نَبَاتَهُ رَمَاداً رِمْدِداً اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ اَلشِّرْكِ وَ هَوَادِيهِ وَ اَلظُّلْمِ وَ دَوَاهِيهِ وَ اَلْفَقْرِ وَ دَوَاعِيهِ يَا مُعْطِيَ اَلْخَيْرَاتِ مِنْ أَمَاكِنِهَا وَ مُرْسِلَ اَلْبَرَكَاتِ مِنْ مَعَادِنِهَا مِنْكَ اَلْغَيْثُ اَلْمُغِيثُ وَ أَنْتَ اَلْغِيَاثُ اَلْمُسْتَغَاثُ وَ نَحْنُ اَلْخَاطِئُونَ وَ أَهْلُ اَلذُّنُوبِ وَ أَنْتَ اَلْمُسْتَغْفَرُ اَلْغَفَّارُ، نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِلْجَمَّاتِ مِنْ ذُنُوبِنَا وَ نَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ عَوَامِّ خَطَايَانَا اَللَّهُمَّ فَأَرْسِلْ عَلَيْنَا دِيمَةً مِدْرَاراً وَ اِسْقِنَا اَلْغَيْثَ وَاكِفاً مِغْزَاراً غَيْثاً وَاسِعاً وَ بَرَكَةً مِنَ اَلْوَابِلِ نَافِعَةً يُدَافَعُ اَلْوَدْقُ بِالْوَدْقِ وَ يَتْلُو اَلْقَطْرُ مِنْهُ اَلْقَطْرَ غَيْرَ خُلَّبٍ بَرْقُهُ وَ لاَ مُكَذَّبٍ رَعْدُهُ وَ لاَ عَاصِفَةٍ جَنَائِبُهُ بَلْ رِيّاً يَغَصُّ بِالرِّيِّ رَبَابُهُ وَ فَاضَ فَانْصَاعَ بِهِ سَحَابُهُ وَ جَرَى آثَارُ هَيْدَبِهِ جَنَابَهُ سُقْيَا مِنْكَ مُحْيِيَةً مُرْوِيَةً مُحَفَّلَةً مُفَضَّلَةً زَاكِياً نَبْتُهَا نَامِياً زَرْعُهَا نَاضِراً عُودُهَا مُمْرِعَةً آثَارُهَا جَارِيَةً بِالْخَيْرِ وَ اَلْخِصْبِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا تَنْعَشُ بِهَا اَلضَّعِيفَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تُحْيِي بِهَا اَلْمَيِّتَ مِنْ بِلاَدِكَ وَ تُنْعِمُ بِهَا اَلْمَبْسُوطَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ وَ تُخْرِجُ بِهَا اَلْمَخْزُونَ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَ تَعُمُّ بِهَا مَنْ نَأَى مِنْ خَلْقِكَ حَتَّى يُخْصِبَ لِإِمْرَاعِهَا اَلْمُجْدِبُونَ وَ يَحْيَا بِبَرَكَتِهَا اَلْمُسْنِتُونَ وَ تَتْرَعَ بِالْقِيعَانِ غُدْرَانُهَا وَ تُورِقَ ذُرَى اَلْأَكْمَامِ زَهَرَاتُهَا وَ يَدْهَامَّ بِذُرَى اَلْآكَامِ شَجَرُهَا وَ تَسْتَحِقَّ عَلَيْنَا بَعْدَ اَلْيَأْسِ شُكْراً مِنَّةً مِنْ مِنَنِكَ مُجَلَّلَةً وَ نِعْمَةً مِنْ نِعَمِكَ مُفْضَلَةً عَلَى بَرِيَّتِكَ اَلْمُرْمِلَةِ وَ بِلاَدِكَ اَلْمُغْرِبَةِ وَ بَهَائِمِكَ اَلْمُعْمَلَةِ وَ وَحْشِكَ اَلْمُهْمَلَةِ اَللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ اِرْتِجَاؤُنَا وَ إِلَيْكَ مَآبُنَا فَلاَ تَحْبِسْهُ عَنَّا لِتَبَطُّنِكَ سَرَائِرَنَا وَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا «بِمٰا فَعَلَ اَلسُّفَهٰاءُ مِنّٰا» فَإِنَّكَ تُنْزِلُ «اَلْغَيْثَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مٰا قَنَطُوا» وَ تَنْشُرُ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ أَنْتَ «اَلْوَلِيُّ اَلْحَمِيدُ»، - » ثُمَّ بَكَى وَقَالَ - « سَيِّدِي سَاخَتْ جِبَالُنَا وَ اِغْبَرَّتْ أَرْضُنَا وَ هَامَتْ دَوَابُّنَا وَ قَنَطَ اَلنَّاسُ مِنَّا أَوْ مَنْ قَنَطَ مِنْهُمْ وَ تَاهَتِ اَلْبَهَائِمُ وَ تَحَيَّرَتْ فِي مَرَاتِعِهَا وَ عَجَّتْ عَجِيجَ اَلثَّكَالَى عَلَى أَوْلاَدِهَا وَ مَلَّتِ اَلدَّوَرَانَ فِي مَرَاتِعِهَا حِينَ حَبَسْتَ عَنْهَا قَطْرَ اَلسَّمَاءِ فَدَقَّ لِذَلِكَ عَظْمُهَا وَ ذَهَبَ لَحْمُهَا وَ ذَابَ شَحْمُهَا وَ اِنْقَطَعَ دَرُّهَا اَللَّهُمَّ اِرْحَمْ أَنِينَ اَلْآنَّةِ وَ حَنِينَ اَلْحَانَّةِ اِرْحَمْ تَحَيُّرَهَا فِي مَرَاتِعِهَا وَ أَنِينَهَا فِي مَرَابِضِهَا.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام delivered a sermon during a prayer for rain and said: "All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Generous in His blessings, the Reliever of distress, and the Creator of life. He Who made the heavens as a support for His Throne, and the mountains as pegs for the earth, and the earth as a bedding for His servants. He placed His angels on its edges, and the bearers of the Throne on its sides. By His Might, He established the foundations of the Throne. With His Light, He illuminated the rays of the sun and with His radiance, He dispelled the darkness of the shadows. He caused springs to burst forth from the earth, made the moon a light, and the stars as shining beacons. Then He ascended and reigned supreme. He created and perfected, established order and ruled. The arrogance of the proud humbled itself before Him, and the humility of the needy turned to Him in supplication. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, through Your lofty status, Your exalted position, Your overflowing grace, and Your encompassing path, I ask You to bless Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, as he devoted himself to You, called others to Your worship, fulfilled Your covenant, enforced Your laws, followed Your signs, was Your servant, Your Prophet, and Your trustee upon Your covenant to Your servants, the upholder of Your laws, the supporter of those who obey You, and the one who dispels the excuses of those who disobey You. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, grant Muhammad the greatest share of Your mercy, the brightest face of those who receive Your abundant gifts, and the nearest of the prophets to You in proximity on the Day of Resurrection, the most abundant of them in receiving Your pleasure, and the largest of them in the gathering of his followers in Your gardens, for he never prostrated to stones, never worshiped trees, never committed unlawful acts, nor shed blood unjustly. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we have come forth to You when harsh constraints have gripped us, difficulties have confined us, adversities have afflicted us, and our pastures have withered. The oppressive years have taken hold over us, and the signs of generosity have been withheld from us. We are thirsty and desire the sounds of showers to fill our hearts. You are the hope of the distressed and the trust of the seeker. We call upon You when the people despair, when the clouds are withheld, and livestock perish. O’ Ever-Living, O’ Self-Sustaining, by the number of trees and stars and the rows of angels and the gathered clouds, do not return us disappointed. Do not hold us accountable for our deeds, nor confront us with our sins. Spread upon us Your mercy through nurturing clouds and flourishing plants. Bestow upon Your servants diverse fruits, enliven Your lands with blossoming vegetation. Witness Your honored angels bringing beneficial, enduring, ample rains—quick and abundant. By this, revive what has died, restore what has been lost, and bring forth what is to come. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, provide us with a pouring rain that nourishes the earth, covers it in abundance, thundering and flashing lightning, refreshing and continuous. May it flow without end, enriching crops and filling lands with lush growth. Do not make its shade a scorching wind upon us, nor its chill destructive, nor its light a terror, nor its water bitter and undrinkable. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we seek refuge in You from disbelief and its consequences, from oppression and its calamities, from poverty and its misfortunes. You Who provide goodness from its sources and send forth blessings from its origins, from You alone is the life-giving rain, and to You alone we turn for help. We are those who err and sin, but You are the Forgiving, the Pardoning. We ask You for forgiveness for our major sins and turn to You for pardon from our frequent mistakes. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send upon us a rain that revives and spreads growth, that is abundant and brings mercy through pouring showers. Let the rain fall in sequence and not be a false promise, its lightning not a deception. Bring forth a rain that quenches thirst, fills valleys, and revitalizes vegetation. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the mountains are parched, the earth is dusty, livestock are wandering and lost in their pastures, animals cry out in distress, seeking nourishment as their strength is sapped, and their bones grow frail. Soften our hearts to their plight, show mercy to their cries, and ease their difficulties in their pastures."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يُصَلِّي لِلاِسْتِسْقَاءِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ يَسْتَسْقِي وَ هُوَ قَاعِدٌ» وَقَالَ «بَدَأَ بِالصَّلاَةِ قَبْلَ اَلْخُطْبَةِ وَ جَهَرَ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ.
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would perform two Rak'ahs of prayer for rain (Istisqa') and supplicate for rain while seated." He also said: "He began with the prayer before the sermon and recited aloud."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ تَحْوِيلِ اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ رِدَاءَهُ إِذَا اِسْتَسْقَى قَالَ «عَلاَمَةٌ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِ تَحَوَّلَ اَلْجَدْبُ خِصْباً.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about why The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would turn his cloak around when he prayed for rain (Istisqa'). Imam عليه السلام said: "It was a sign between him and his companions, indicating that drought had turned into abundance."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ جَاءَ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ اَلْكُوفَةِ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالُوا لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ اُدْعُ لَنَا بِدَعَوَاتٍ فِي اَلاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَدَعَا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ اَلْحَسَنَ وَ اَلْحُسَيْنَ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ «يَا حَسَنُ اُدْعُ» فَقَالَ اَلْحَسَنُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ « اَللَّهُمَّ هَيِّجْ لَنَا اَلسَّحَابَ بِفَتْحِ اَلْأَبْوَابِ بِمَاءٍ عُبَابٍ وَ رَبَابٍ بِانْصِبَابٍ وَ اِنْسِكَابٍ يَا وَهَّابُ وَ اِسْقِنَا مُطَبِّقَةً مُغْدِقَةً مُونِقَةً فَتِّحْ أَغْلاَقَهَا وَ سَهِّلْ إِطْلاَقَهَا وَ عَجِّلْ سِيَاقَهَا بِالْأَنْدِيَةِ فِي اَلْأَوْدِيَةِ يَا وَهَّابُ بِصَوْبِ اَلْمَاءِ يَا فَعَّالُ اِسْقِنَا مَطَراً قَطْراً طَلاًّ مُطِلاًّ طَبَقاً مُطَبِّقاً عَامّاً مِعَمّاً رِهَماً بُهْماً رُحْماً رَشّاً مُرِشّاً وَاسِعاً كَافِياً عَاجِلاً طَيِّباً مُبَارَكاً سُلاَطِحاً بُلاَطِحاً يُنَاطِحُ اَلْأَبَاطِحَ مُغْدَوْدِقاً مُطْبَوْبِقاً مُغْرَوْرِقاً وَ اِسْقِ سَهْلَنَا وَ جَبَلَنَا وَ بَدْوَنَا وَ حَضَرَنَا حَتَّى تُرْخِصَ بِهِ أَسْعَارَنَا وَ تُبَارِكَ بِهِ فِي ضِيَاعِنَا وَ مُدُنِنَا أَرِنَا اَلرِّزْقَ مَوْجُوداً وَ اَلْغَلاَءَ مَفْقُوداً آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ اَلْعَالَمِينَ » ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «اُدْعُ» فَقَالَ اَلْحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ « اَللَّهُمَّ مُعْطِيَ اَلْخَيْرَاتِ مِنْ مَظَانِّهَا وَ مُنْزِلَ اَلرَّحَمَاتِ مِنْ مَعَادِنِهَا وَ مُجْرِيَ اَلْبَرَكَاتِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا مِنْكَ اَلْغَيْثُ اَلْمُغِيثُ وَ أَنْتَ اَلْغِيَاثُ اَلْمُسْتَغَاثُ وَ نَحْنُ اَلْخَاطِئُونَ وَ أَهْلُ اَلذُّنُوبِ وَ أَنْتَ اَلْمُسْتَغْفَرُ اَلْغَفَّارُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ اَللَّهُمَّ أَرْسِلِ اَلسَّمَاءَ عَلَيْنَا دِيمَةً مِدْرَاراً وَ اِسْقِنَا اَلْغَيْثَ وَاكِفاً مِغْزَاراً غَيْثاً مُغِيثاً وَاسِعاً مُسْبِغاً مُهْطِلاً مَرِيئاً مَرِيعاً غَدَقاً مُغْدِقاً عُبَاباً مُجَلْجِلاً، سَحّاً سَحْسَاحاً بَسّاً بَسَّاساً مُسْبِلاً عَامّاً وَدْقاً مِطْفَاحاً يَدْفَعُ اَلْوَدْقَ بِالْوَدْقِ دِفَاعاً وَ يَطْلُعُ اَلْقَطْرُ مِنْهُ غَيْرَ خُلَّبِ اَلْبَرْقِ وَ لاَ مُكَذَّبِ اَلرَّعْدِ تَنْعَشُ بِهِ اَلضَّعِيفَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تُحْيِي بِهِ اَلْمَيِّتَ مِنْ بِلاَدِكَ مَنّاً عَلَيْنَا مِنْكَ آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ اَلْعَالَمِينَ » فَمَا تَمَّ كَلاَمُهُ حَتَّى صَبَّ اَللَّهُ اَلْمَاءَ صَبّاً وَ سُئِلَ سَلْمَانُ اَلْفَارِسِيُّ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ هَذَا شَيْءٌ عُلِّمَاهُ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكُمْ أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَيْثُ يَقُولُ «أُجْرِيَتِ اَلْحِكْمَةُ عَلَى لِسَانِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي.
A group of people from Kufa came to Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام and said: "O’ Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, pray for us for rain." Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام called for Imam Hasan عليه السلام and Imam Hussain عليه السلام and said: "O’ Hassan عليه السلام, Pray." Imam Hassan عليه السلام supplicated, saying: "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, stir up the clouds for us, open the doors (of mercy), with abundant water, pouring down and gushing forth. O’ Giver, grant us a deluge that covers and flows abundantly. Open its locks, ease its release, and hasten its bringing forth to water the valleys and uplands, O’ Giver! Let it be rain that pours copiously, that saturates and refreshes, that is beneficial and sufficient, arriving quickly and blessedly. Let it reach everywhere —our plains and mountains, our deserts and towns —so that it lowers our prices, blesses our crops and cities, and shows us a plentiful provision with scarcity removed. Ameen, O’ Lord عز وجل of the Worlds." Then He عليه السلام said to Hussain عليه السلام, "Pray." Imam Hussain عليه السلام supplicated, saying: "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Giver of goodness from its sources, Sender of mercies from their origins, and Distributor of blessings upon their people, You are the One from whom we seek rain and the One to whom we turn in need. We are sinners and people of transgressions, while You are the One who forgives and is oft-pardoning. There is no god but You. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, send upon us rain in abundance, providing plentiful and refreshing showers, granting life-giving rain, full and pouring down in abundance, with a swift, nourishing flood, a complete outpouring, wide-spreading and far-reaching, soaking all lands. Let it be a mercy from You upon us, O’ Lord عز وجل of the Worlds." Before Hussain عليه السلام completed his supplication, Allah سبحانه وتعالى sent down rain in abundance. Salman al-Farsi was asked about this and was told: "O’ Abu Abdullah, is this something they (Imam Hassan عليه السلام & Imam Hussain عليه السلام) were taught?" He replied: "Woe to you! Did you not hear the words of Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, who said: 'Wisdom flows on the tongues of my Ahlul Bayt.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: «أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ اَلْخَطَّابِ خَرَجَ يَسْتَسْقِي فَقَالَ لِلْعَبَّاسِ قُمْ فَادْعُ رَبَّكَ وَ اِسْتَسْقِ وَقَالَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِعَمِّ نَبِيِّكَ فَقَامَ اَلْعَبَّاسُ فَحَمِدَ اَللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ عِنْدَكَ سَحَاباً وَ إِنَّ عِنْدَكَ مَطَراً فَانْشُرِ اَلسَّحَابَ وَ أَنْزِلْ فِيهِ اَلْمَاءَ ثُمَّ أَنْزِلْهُ عَلَيْنَا وَ اُشْدُدْ بِهِ اَلْأَصْلَ وَ أَطْلِعْ بِهِ اَلْفَرْعَ وَ أَحْيِ بِهِ اَلزَّرْعَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا شُفَعَاءُ إِلَيْكَ عَمَّنْ لاَ مَنْطِقَ لَهُ مِنْ بَهَائِمِنَا وَ أَنْعَامِنَا شَفِّعْنَا فِي أَنْفُسِنَا وَ أَهَالِينَا اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا لاَ نَدْعُو إِلاَّ إِيَّاكَ وَ لاَ نَرْغَبُ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ اِسْقِنَا سَقْياً وَادِعاً نَافِعاً طَبَقاً مُجَلْجِلاً اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ جُوعَ كُلِّ جَائِعٍ، وَ عُرْيَ كُلِّ عَارٍ وَ خَوْفَ كُلِّ خَائِفٍ وَ سَغَبَ كُلِّ سَاغِبٍ يَدْعُو اَللَّهَ.
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that Umar ibn al-Khattab went out to pray for rain (Istisqa') and said to Abbas (the uncle of the Prophet), "Stand up and supplicate to your Lord عز وجل and seek rain." Umar said: "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we seek a means to You through the uncle of Your Prophet." So Abbas stood up, praised Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and extolled Him, then said: "O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, You have the clouds, and You have the rain; so spread the clouds and send down water from it upon us. Send it down upon us, strengthen the roots, make the branches grow, and revive the crops with it. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we are intercessors to You for those who cannot speak—our livestock and our animals. Let us be intercessors for ourselves and our families. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we call upon none but You and turn our hope to none but You. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, give us a peaceful and beneficial rainfall, abundant and overwhelming. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, we complain to You of the hunger of every hungry one, the nakedness of every unclothed one, the fear of every fearful one, and the thirst of every thirsty one who calls upon You."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
Commentary #1