Short answer
Salat al-istisqa is the prayer for rain in a time of drought. The Prophet ﷺ went out to an open prayer ground, made du'a facing the qibla, turned his cloak and prayed two rakats. Abu Hanifa held that istisqa is mainly du'a and seeking forgiveness, while his students Abu Yusuf and Muhammad held it is two rakats in congregation with a khutbah, which is the common practice.
Imam Abu Hanifa taught that istisqa is du'a and istighfar: there is no sunnah congregational prayer for it, though people may pray on their own. Abu Yusuf and Muhammad held that the imam leads two rakats with loud recitation, then gives a khutbah (two in Muhammad's view, one in Abu Yusuf's) and makes du'a facing the qibla. Many later Hanafi scholars follow the two students.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Two rakats in congregation are a confirmed sunnah, with extra takbirs like the Eid prayer, followed by two khutbahs.
- Maliki
- Two rakats in congregation are a confirmed sunnah, like an ordinary prayer with loud recitation, followed by two khutbahs.
- Hanbali
- Two rakats in congregation are a confirmed sunnah, with the Eid takbirs, followed by one khutbah.
Explanation
When rain stops and people suffer, Islam teaches them to turn back to Allah. Nuh told his people to ask their Lord's forgiveness so He would send rain upon them in showers. The Prophet ﷺ, in a drought, went out to the prayer ground, faced the qibla making du'a, turned his cloak inside out and prayed two rakats.
How it is done (the common Hanafi practice):
- The imam announces it in advance and urges people to repent, settle wrongs, give charity and fast for three days.
- On the day, people go out to an open ground humbly, in plain clothes, with the elderly and children.
- The imam leads two rakats with loud recitation, without adhan or iqamah.
- He gives a khutbah, then faces the qibla and makes du'a with raised hands, and turns his cloak or shawl as a sign of hoping Allah will change the state.
- This may be repeated on three days.
Without the prayer: du'a for rain is sunnah at any time, including in the Friday khutbah, and anyone can pray two rakats of nafl and ask Allah for rain alone. Istighfar is at the heart of it all. Non-Muslims are not brought out with the Muslims for the istisqa in the Hanafi school.
For the du'as, see du'a for rain. For other prayers of need, see salat al-hajah and all the prayers in Islam.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Nooh 71:10-11
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا ﴿١٠﴾ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا ﴿١١﴾
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
Seeking forgiveness is linked to Allah sending rain.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1012
Sahih... فاستسقى فاستقبل القبلة وقلب رداءه وصلى ركعتين ...
"He went out to the prayer ground and asked for rain; he faced the qibla, turned his cloak and prayed two rakats."
The Prophet's ﷺ practice of istisqa with du'a and two rakats.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on istisqa. Abu Hanifa: istisqa is du'a and istighfar with no sunnah congregational prayer, though praying individually is allowed; Abu Yusuf and Muhammad: two rakats in congregation, then a khutbah.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on istisqa. Details of going out on three days, turning the cloak and the preference for the students' view.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.