Salat-ul-Istisqa offered to pray for end to dry spell in Anantnag

Anantnag, Jul 28: A large number of people gathered on Sunday in Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district to offer “Salat-ul-Istisqa” to pray for an end to the dry spell in the valley.
Salat-ul-Istisqa is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that Muslims offer whenever there is a dry spell, where people jointly make supplications to Allah for rain.
The gathering was led by the well-known Islamic preacher Moulana Mubashir Ahmad Veeri, with young and old, including children, making emotional supplications to Allah for rain.
Moulana said that there are many factors behind the dry spell and lack of rain. He stated that Allah has decreed that if people stop paying Zakat, He will withhold rain.
He also pointed out that public evil and other wrongdoings among people, which go against religious teachings, are contributing factors.
“There are scientific reasons including global warming which is a significant challenge for the whole world. Another factor behind the dry spell and unseasonal changes is dishonest practices in measurement and weight,” he said.
Moulana added that, according to religious teachings, a fourth reason behind climate change is the sins of people on earth. He quoted a Quranic verse which translates to, “As will be your actions, so will be the calamity upon you.”
He said that people should reconsider their actions, avoid harmful behaviours, and, importantly, educate others about actions that exacerbate these issues.
Mohammad Ummer, a devotee, acknowledged that climate change and global warming are factors but said that people also need to understand there are other reasons, such as the wrongful acts of people.
He said that the best approach is to introspect and contribute something good to society, which will benefit everyone.