UAE President calls for rain prayer on Friday

In a call for rain prayers, President Sheikh Mohamed has urged all mosques across the UAE to hold Salaat Al Istisqaa on Friday. This prayer, performed half an hour before the main Friday service, is in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed. Sheikh Mohamed asked everyone to pray for rain and mercy, following the same call made last October when worshippers gathered in mosques nationwide.

The rain prayers are observed throughout the Gulf region when rainfall is delayed. While some parts of the UAE have experienced scattered rain, most areas remain dry. Additional rainfall is vital for agriculture, aiding farmers in cultivating healthy crops under challenging conditions and replenishing groundwater reserves.

Typically, the UAE receives approximately 150mm of rainfall annually. The President's call for rain prayers underscores the importance of this tradition in sustaining the nation's agricultural sector and groundwater resources. During Salaat Al Istisqaa, worshippers gather in the mosque facing the qibla, standing together for two rak ahs led by an imam.

They seek forgiveness and make supplications for divine mercy and rainfall, followed by sermons that highlight the significance of the prayer in relation to agriculture and groundwater conservation.