The prayer for rain, known as Salat al-Istisqa, is typically performed amid a drought or delayed rainfall and has been issued by the Saudi Arabian King on previous occasions
The King of Saudi Arabia has urged citizens nationwide to take part in a prayer for rain which is typically performed amid delayed rainfall and droughts.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud called on Muslims across the country to take part in the prayer of seeking rain, known as Salat al-Istisqa. Today the prayer was performed and is typically done when there is need for rain.
The call was made despite the Gulf state seeing snow fall in the desert during freak hail storms in the typically arid landscape earlier this month. Hail the size of golf balls pelted the northern Al Jawf region and heavy rainfall was seen in eastern regions.
Severe weather warnings were issued at the time with the bout of hail and rain believed to have been due to a low-pressure system coming in from the Arabian Sea. But other parts of the country, which is about eight times the size of the UK, have not seen as much rainfall.
The Royal Court said in a statement that the King had called for the prayer. Muslims in Saudi Arabia have performed Istisqa prayers on several occasions in the past followed delayed rainfall or droughts.
“We ask God, the Exalted in Might, to have mercy on the land and the people, to respond to His servants’ supplication, and to make what he sends down a mercy for them and a provision for a time,” the statement said as reported by Egyptian outlet Al-Masry Al-Youm. “Indeed, He is hearing and responsive.”
The country’s Islamic Affairs Ministry said earlier this week: “Prayer will start 15 minutes after sunrise, based on the Umm Al-Qura calendar. The ministry has also completed all arrangements necessary to ensure the readiness of designated mosques and open prayer areas in various regions and governorates.”
The prayer is also called on Muslims to seek forgiveness or further repentance. The Mirror previously reported Saudi Arabian officials had taken steps to reduce the amount of desert areas by using drones to create fake rain via a phenomenon known as cloud seeding.
While the country experiences temperatures surpassing 40C in summer and more than 20C in winter, there have been instances where snowstorms have battered the country.
In 2021, temperatures in Saudi Arabia plummeted to -2C. It had been the first time in nearly 50 years that temperatures in the region had fallen below freeing.
