3/1. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1162 — Facing Qiblah in Rain Prayer
Collection Of Chapters Regarding Salat Al-Istisqa'
Istisqa Prayer Hadith: Facing the Qiblah and Turning the Cloak
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1162
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1162
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ السَّرْحِ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، وَيُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبَّادُ بْنُ تَمِيمٍ الْمَازِنِيُّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَمَّهُ، - وَكَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا يَسْتَسْقِي فَحَوَّلَ إِلَى النَّاسِ ظَهْرَهُ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ - قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ - وَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا زَادَ ابْنُ السَّرْحِ يُرِيدُ الْجَهْرَ .
Abd Allah b. Zaid b Asim Narrated from:
One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to make supplication for rain. He turned his back towards the people praying to Allah, the Exalted. The narrator Sulaiman b. Dawud said: He faced the qiblah and turned around his cloak and then offered two rak'ahs of prayer. The narrator Ibn Abi Dhi'b said: He recited from the Qur'an in both of them. The version of Ibn al-Sarh adds: By it he means in a loud voice.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1162In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 2English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1158
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1162
This istisqa hadith focuses on the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم going out to ask Allah for rain. He turned his back to the people while praying to Allah, faced the qiblah, turned his cloak, and then offered two rak'ahs. The report also mentions Qur'an recitation in the two rak'ahs, with one version explaining that it was done aloud. For anyone searching for a hadith about prayer for rain, this narration shows that the request for rain was tied to clear acts of worship: facing Allah's direction in prayer, making dua, and praying with the people. It also teaches calm order during a time of need.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم faced the qiblah while making supplication for rain.
- He turned his cloak during the rain prayer.
- He offered two rak'ahs after the supplication details mentioned in the report.
- The recitation in the prayer is described as aloud in one version.
