{
  "id": 13136521,
  "title": "UAE worshippers answer President Sheikh Mohamed's call to pray for rain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/uae-worshippers-answer-president-sheikh-mohameds-call-to-pray-for-rain",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T14:38:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/09/uae-worshippers-answer-president-sheikh-mohameds-call-to-pray-for-rain/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Worshippers across the UAE gathered in mosques on Friday to perform Salaat Al Istisqaa, the Islamic prayer for rain, following President Sheikh Mohamed's call. This prayer was performed amid declining rainfall levels in the Middle East, with the UAE experiencing significantly below-average rainfall in 2025. At Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan Mosque in Abu Dhabi, worshippers expressed hope for imminent rain, viewing the prayer as a means to seek divine intervention and mercy. Men and women, from various nationalities including Egypt, Jordan, India, and the UAE, participated in the prayer, emphasizing its universal appeal beyond just the UAE. The act of praying for rain was seen as a collective supplication, not only for the well-being of humans but also for the survival of flora and fauna. Participants expressed faith in the effectiveness of this ritual, believing it could bring much-needed relief to regions grappling with drought conditions.",
  "summary": "Worshippers gathered at mosques across the UAE on Friday to perform Salaat Al Istisqaa , the Islamic prayer for rain. Earlier in the week, President Sheikh Mohamed had called on Emiratis and UAE residents to perform the prayer. The call came as the level of rainfall declines across parts of the Middle East. Through most of 2025, cumulative rainfall in the UAE was significantly below average –…",
  "key_points": [
    "UAE worshippers performed Salaat Al Istisqaa to pray for rain.",
    "Declining rainfall levels prompted President Sheikh Mohamed's call.",
    "Participants from diverse nationalities emphasized prayer's universal appeal."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "UAE worshippers answer President Sheikh Mohamed's call to pray for rain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/uae-worshippers-answer-president-sheikh-mohameds-call-to-pray-for-rain-13140467",
        "published": "2026-10-09T14:38:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}