UAE President calls for rain prayer at all mosques on Friday 9 October
In short
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called for Salaat Al Istisqaa, a prayer for rain, to be performed at all mosques across the country on Friday 9 October, half an hour before the Friday prayer. The President called on everyone to pray for rain and mercy, in line with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. The National reported that although parts of the UAE have seen scattered rain, most areas remained dry.
Read the full story 1 min read
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called for a prayer for rain, known in Arabic as Salaat Al Istisqaa, to be performed at all mosques across the UAE on Friday 9 October, half an hour before the Friday prayer. The President called on everyone to pray to God for rain and mercy, in line with the Sunnah, or traditions, of Prophet Muhammad, the state news agency WAM said. Gulf News and The National reported the same call. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Gulf News reported that the special prayer is performed by Muslims to seek rain from God during periods of scarce or delayed rainfall, and is accompanied by supplication, repentance and prayers for divine mercy and blessings, following the example of Prophet Muhammad. The National said worshippers stand together facing the qibla for two rak’ahs led by an imam, seeking forgiveness and making supplications, followed by sermons in which the imam speaks about the prayer’s importance. [ 2 , 6 ]
The National reported that although parts of the UAE have seen scattered rains, most areas remained dry, and that additional rainfall is crucial for agriculture, helping farmers grow crops in tough conditions, and for strengthening groundwater reserves. The country usually receives around 150mm of rainfall each year, it said. [ 6 ]
Last October, worshippers gathered in mosques across the country following Sheikh Mohamed’s call to perform rain prayers, The National reported. Gulf News said UAE leaders have called for Salaat Al Istisqaa on previous occasions when rain was needed, continuing an established Islamic tradition also observed across the region. Arabian Business said in a summary that all mosques across the UAE were being asked to pray for rain on Friday. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The call is a religious rite performed when rainfall is scarce or delayed, and The National linked it to water needs: it said additional rainfall is important for agriculture and for groundwater reserves in a country that usually receives around 150mm of rain a year. The documents give no official statement of water-supply or economic consequences beyond that.
Key facts
- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for Salaat Al Istisqaa, a prayer for rain, at all mosques in the UAE on Friday 9 October. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The prayer is to be performed half an hour before the Friday prayer. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The President called on everyone to pray to God for rain and mercy, in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Gulf News reported that the special prayer is performed by Muslims to seek rain from God during periods of scarce or delayed rainfall, and is accompanied by supplication, repentance and prayers for divine mercy. [ 2 ]
- The National reported that most areas of the UAE remained dry although parts of the country have seen scattered rains, and that the country usually gets around 150mm of rainfall each year. [ 6 ]
- The National reported that worshippers stand facing the qibla for two rak’ahs led by an imam, followed by sermons. [ 6 ]
- The National reported that last October worshippers gathered in mosques across the country after a similar call by Sheikh Mohamed. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for Salaat Al Istisqaa to be performed at all mosques in the UAE on Friday 9 October. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The prayer is to be held half an hour before the Friday prayer. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The President called on everyone to pray to God for rain and mercy, in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Why the prayer was called at this time. The documents do not give a specific reason; The National notes that most areas remained dry, but no official link between current conditions and the call is stated.
- The clock time of the Friday prayer and of the rain prayer on 9 October. Documents say only that the rain prayer is half an hour before the Friday prayer; no clock time is given.
- The extent of current dry conditions across the country. Only The National provides rainfall context, and it is a single source; no rainfall figures for the current period are given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- WAM publishes the President’s call for Salaat Al Istisqaa at all mosques on Friday 9 October, half an hour before the Friday prayer. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News publishes the call along with an explanation of the prayer’s meaning and procedure. [ 2 ]
- Arabian Business reports in summary that all mosques across the UAE are being asked to pray for rain on Friday. [ 4 ]
- The National publishes the call with context on the UAE’s rainfall, agriculture and groundwater, and on last October’s rain prayer. [ 6 ]