Hadith>Articles>Namaaz-e-Istisqa

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان: اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان رحم والا

Translation: Allah in the name of the most Affectionate the Merciful

Du’a for Reading the Book or Islamic Lesson

Read the following Du’a (supplication) before studying a religious book or Islamic lesson , you will remember whatever you study.

Translation:Ya Allah! Open the portal of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the one who is the most honourable and glorious! (Al-Mustaraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)

Note: Recite Durud Sharif once before and after the Du’a.

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان:اور اگر جب وہ اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کریں تو اے محبوب تمہارے حضور حاضر ہوں اور پھر اللہ سے معافی چاہیں اور رسول ان کی شفاعت فرمائے تو ضرور اللہ کو بہت توبہ قبول کرنے والا مہربان پائیں۔

                                                                                                      

Translation of Kanzul Iman:And if when they do justice unto their souls, then O beloved! They should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful (4:64)

Excellence of Durud Shareef

The Noble Rasool صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Whoever recites Salat upon me one time, Allah عزوجل sends ten mercies upon him.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

Namaaz-e-Istisqa as Mentioned in Hadith

Hadith 1: Ibn Majah reports from Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  said, ‘Those people who cheat and measures and weights will be inflicted by drought, difficulty at the time of death and dictatorship of a ruthless ruler (King). If it was not for the animals, it would have not rained upon them.’

Hadith 2: It is in Sahih Muslim Shareef from Abu Hurairah رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم said, ‘Drought does not only refer to the shortage of rain, but it also refers to time when it rains but nothing grows on the earth.’

Hadith 3: It is in Sahihain from Anas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم never used to raise his hands as much as he did when making Dua in Istisqa. He would raise it to the extent that the whiteness of his blessed underarms could be seen.

Hadith 4: It is in Sahih Muslim from him as well (Anas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ) that Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم made Dua for rain, and he gestured towards the sky with the back of his blessed hands. (In other words, during other Duas, the principle is to face the palms upwards, but in this the hands should be turned over, as this is a foretoken of the condition changing).

Hadith 5: It is in Sunan-e-Arba from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم wore old clothing and went for Istisqa, with humility, sincerity and in earnest supplication.

Hadith 6: Abu Dawud reported from Ummul Momineen A’isha Siddiqa رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that people complained to Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  about the drought and shortage of rain. Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  commanded for the Mimbar to be brought forth and it was placed in the Eid Gah, and then promised the people with regards to a particular day, that on that day all will go there. When the brink of the sun glowed, Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم went there and sat on the Mimbar. He proclaimed the Takbeer and Praised Almighty Allah. He  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم then said, ‘You people complained with regards to the drought in your country (city) and about the rains being delayed later than usual, and Allah Almighty has commanded you that you should make Dua to Him (invoke Him), and He has promised that He will accept your Duas.’ After this, He صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  said,

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ مَالِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ لَا اِلٰـہَ اِلَّا اللہُ یَفْعَلُ مَا یُرِیْدُ اَللّٰھُمَّ اَنْتَ اللہُ لَا اِلٰـہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ الْغَنِیُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ اَنْزِلْ عَلَیْنَا الْغَیْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا اَنْزَلْتَ قُوَّۃً وَّ بَلَاغًا اِلٰی حِیْنٍ

‘Praise be to Allah Who is the Creator of the worlds. He is most Compassionate, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Requital. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. He does as He Wills. O Allah! You alone are worthy of Worship, Besides You there is none worthy of Worship. You are free from all needs, and we are dependant (on You). Send down rains upon us, and whatever You send down, let it be strength for us, and let it be a means of reaching us for a time.’ He  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم then raised his blessed hands, to the extent that the whiteness of the blessed underarms was visible. He then faced his back to the people and then turned over his blessed shawl (blanket). He then turned and directed his attention towards the people and descended from the Mimbar, then performed 2 Raka’ats of Namaaz. Allah Almighty caused it to become overcast immediately. There was thunder and lightning and then it rained, and Huzoor صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  had not yet returned from the Musjid and the drains were flowing.

Hadith 7: Imam Malik and Abu Dawud report on the authority of Amr ibn Shu’aib who reported from his father who reported from his grandfather, that Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم would make this Dua for Istisqa:

اَللّٰھُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَکَ وَ بَھِیْمَتَکَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَکَ وَاَحْیِ بَلَدَکَ الْمَیِّتَ

‘O Allah, quench (the thirst) of Your servants and the animals, and spread out Your Mercy, and bring back your dead (drought stricken) city to life.’

Hadith 8: It is in Sunan Abu Dawud from Jabir رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ. He says, ‘I saw Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  raise his blessed hands and make this Dua:

اَللّٰھُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَیْثًا مُّغِیْثًا مَّرِیْأً مَّرِیْعاً نَّافِعاً غَیْرَ ضَارٍّ عَاجِلاً غَيْرَ اٰجِلٍ

Allah, Quench us with rain abundantly, rains which will bring pleasant freshness, and which beneficial and not harmful (and) which will (come) soon and not later.’ Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم had just recited this Dua and the sky became overcast.’

Hadith 9: It is in Sahih Bukhari Shareef from Anas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that when the people would be affected by drought, then Ameerul Momineen Farooq-e-Azam رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ would make Dua (for rain) through the Wasila of Hazrat Ab’bas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ. He would say, ‘O Allah, We used to take the Wasila of our Nabi  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم towards You, and You would cause it to rain. Now, we make the Beloved Uncle of Our Nabi  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم the Wasila in Your Court, so send down rains (upon us).’ Hazrat Anas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ says, ‘When we did this then it would rain.’

In other words, (Anas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ was explaining that) in the physical lifetime of Rasoolullah  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم, Huzoor  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم would be in front and we would make our Saffs behind him and make Dua. Now, since we cannot do this, we put forth the Uncle of Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم  and make Dua (behind him). This too is actually through the Tawassul of Rasoolullah صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم . If it could not be achieved extrinsically, then it is achieved intrinsically.

Ya Allah عزوجل of Mustafa  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم! We make sincere Dua that  blesses us all with strength in Imaan and true love for the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلمand for all those who follow that which has been taught and commanded by Him. Amin! (Source: Extracted from Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 4)

Courtesy: Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center

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