21- THE DROUGHT PRAYER
THE DROUGHT PRAYER
The drought prayer is a confirmed Sunna (even for someone travelling, or praying alone), and is recommended to be prayed in a group.
When the land is parched or the water supply is cut off or diminished, the imam (i.e. the caliph or his representative) warns people against wrongdoing and orders them to repent for their sins, give charity (because this influences the acceptance of prayers), settle their differences with enemies (if the enmity is not for Allah’s sake. Otherwise, it is not objectionable, for severing ties with the corrupt is something that one should do), and fast for three days (which must be consecutive, for this is obligatory if the caliph orders it). Then, on the fourth day while still fasting, they come out to an empty expanse (lit. “desert”) in their work clothes, accompanied by those of the women who do not have attractive figures (livestock, men and women advanced in years, infants and small children, the pious, and those related to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace); and they ask Allah to give them rain because of those present(i.e. by virtue of their spiritual grace (baraka), interceding through them). Each mention to himself the good works he has done and intercedes through them.
Non-Muslim subjects of the Islamic state who attend are not hindered from doing so, but may not mix with us.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DROUGHT PRAYER
The drought prayer consists of two rak’as like those of the ‘Eid.
The imam then gives two sermons like those of the ‘Eid, except that in place of each Allahu Akbar, the imam says, “I ask forgiveness of Allah Most Great. whom there is no god but He, the Living, the Ever Subsistent, and I tum to Him in repentance.”
During the sermons, the imam frequently asks Allah’s forgiveness (istighfar), blesses the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), supplicates Allah. and recites the verses,
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord-verily He is oft-forgiving-and He will lose the sky upon you in torrents, aid you with wealth and sons, and make gardens and rivers yours” (Quran71:10-12).
In the second sermon (about a third of the way through it) the imam turns toward the direction of prayer (qibla) and switches his cloak around (by putting the right side of it on his left and vice versa. It is also Sunna to tum it upside down. Both Sunnas can be affected by putting the lower left comer on the right shoulder and lower right comer on the left shoulder. The wisdom therein is the favorable portent of a change of state). The people do likewise.
He should supplicate to his utmost. both to himself and aloud. (Those present raise their hands with the backs of the hands up. The Sunna supplication is: “O Allah, send us rain, raining wholesomely, healthily. torrentially, widespread, pouringly, in sheets, drenchingly, continuously till Judgement Day. 0 Allah, give us rain and make us not of those who despair. 0 Allah, servants and cities are in distress, hunger, and want, from which we can ask none but You for relief. 0 Allah, make the crops grow and the milk of the livestock flow, and send down the sky’s blessings upon us and bring forth for us the blessings of the earth. Raise from us the affliction that none but You can lift. “)
If they pray but are not given any rain, they repeat the prayer (until given rain). If they prepare (and gather), but are given rain before the prayer, they pray in thanks and ask for more.
It is recommended for those whose land is flourishing to supplicate after prayers for those whose land is parehed. (This being the middle course. The minimum is to make a supplication, while the optimum is to take the above measures of performing two rak’as with the two sermons, the supplications, and asking for forgiveness.)
At the first rainfall of the year, it is recommended to uncover part of the body for the rain to strike.
It is recommended to glorify Allah when thunder is heard (saying, “Glory to Him the thunder and the angels glorify, in awe of Him,”) and when lightning is seen (saying, “Glory to Him who shows you the lightning that you may have fear and hope”).
If it rains so much that harm is feared, it is recommended to supplicate as has come in the Sunna: “0 Allah, around us, not upon us. 0 Allah, upon the hills and bluffs, the valley floors and copses of trees. “
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