TWO RAKAATS AFTER JUMUAH SALAAT FOR RAIN?!
WHERE EXACTLY DO PEOPLE DREAM UP THIS STUFF?
QUESTION:
Kindly comment on the Shar`i validity of the following message that has been circulating on social media this week:
“Assalamualaikum On Friday 25th October all Mosques throughout the Country will INSHA ALLAH pray Two Rakaats After JUMMAH SALAAH FOR RAIN
Please communicate this to your Jamaat and all the Muslims. Send this communique to all relatives FRIENDS and FAMILY”
ANSWER:
Allah Ta`ala mentions clearly in His Kalaam: “On this Day have I completed for you your Deen.”
Our Deen is based on Qur`aan, Sunnah, Ijma (consensus of the Sahaabah and Fuqaha) and Qiyaas. Every act of Ibaadat in our Deen has been codified and the Laws of Fiqh have been outlined in detail by the Aimmah-e-Mujtahiddeen (i.e. the Four Imaams of Math-hab).
Amongst these laws of the Shariah, which have been taught to us by Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and practiced throughout the annals of Islamic History (when needed), is Salaatul Istisqaa (Salaat for rain). There is a specific method of performing this Salaat. It is a specific two Rakaats which are to be performed on the outskirts of a town. After the Salaat, the Imaam will perform two Khutbahs like the Khutbahs of Eid Salaat. He will then turn to face Qiblah and make dua. It is to be performed over a period of three days. Even if rain falls on the first or second day, the three days have to be completed. It is preferable for the community to keep fast for these three days. The people performing this Salaat must emerge from the town in humility and dressed in very simple attire. No non-Muslim must be present.
A necessary component for the acceptance of this Salaat and dua is that the community make sincere Taubah for their transgressions, return any wealth etc. taken unlawfully and ensure that their Zakaat is paid up. Drought is, after all, the effect of our sins and disobedience to Allah Rabbul Izzat.
What an irony that people need rain, and yet they wish to petition and implore Allah Ta`ala to send His Mercy and rain, by doing it in total contravention to the Sunnah of His Beloved (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)!
These two Rakaats after Jumu’ah Salaat for rain, as advertised on social media, is NOT a teaching of our Deen. It is NOT in accordance to the Sunnah of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
This is a Bid`ah, hence Haraam.
Such acts of transgression are advertised by ignoramuses to garner support of the masses. Such acts may outwardly appear to be ‘deeni’ but they are the result of shaitaani whisperings.
In fact, it is precisely acts such as these that are the cause of Allah Ta`ala withholding His Rahmat and rains.
Another point worth mentioning is that even Salaatul Istisqaa must only be performed in dire circumstances, that is, when a drought is extremely severe and people’s very lives depend on rain. Our present situation is South Africa is, Alhamdulillah, not anywhere close to a crisis. If it appears that a drought is imminent, the first step is to rectify our deeds and bring our lives in line with the Shariah. Disobedience to Allah Ta`ala must be brought to a halt and people must be so desperate that their very desperation will engender sincere Taubah.
The mock ‘Istisqaa Salaats’ that people perform nowadays, coupled with Bid`ah acts like this one advertised on social media, reek of ignorance, pride, pomp and show. Instead of attracting rain, they bring on droughts!
No Imaam, who is an adherent of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah, with even the slightest vestige of aql (intelligence), will consider carrying out this Bid`ah ‘salaat’ for rain after Jumu’ah Salaat.
May Allah Ta`ala guide us all to understand the tricks of shaitaan and the nafs.
25th Safar 1441 / 24th October 2019