Coping with Hot Weather Using Prayers Taught by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Hot weather often makes us feel uncomfortable, especially during fasting. High temperatures can lead to dehydration, weakness, dizziness, and even heat strokes. So, how can we deal with scorching hot weather?

One of the ways to cope is by turning to Allah SWT, the Creator of the universe. Allah SWT is All-Knowing about everything happening on Earth, including the weather and climate. He is also Merciful and Compassionate to His servants.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the role model for Muslims, taught several prayers to recite during hot weather. These prayers aim to seek protection, mercy, and assistance from Allah SWT, ensuring our well-being, strength, and enthusiasm in our daily activities.

Here are some prayers taught by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for hot weather:

Prayer for Beneficial Rain

Rain is a precious gift from Allah SWT, essential for all living creatures. It cools the air, nourishes plants, replenishes water sources, and cleanses the atmosphere from dust and pollution. However, rain does not always fall as desired. Sometimes, it pours too heavily, causing floods, or it becomes scarce, leading to droughts.

Therefore, it's crucial to pray for beneficial rain correctly. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught a supplication to request beneficial rain, as mentioned in the book "Doa Dzikir Muslimah" by Abu Ayyub El-Faruqi:

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْئًا مُغِينَّا مَرِيئًا نَافِعًا غَيْرِ ضَاءٍ عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ أَجِلٍ

"Allâhummas qinâ ghaitsam mughîtsam mari`am nâfi'an ghaira dhârrin, 'âjilan ghaira âjilin."

Translation: "O Allah, bestow upon us rain that is steady, refreshing, beneficial, and not harmful. We implore You for rain promptly, not delayed." (Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud)

Another prayer for asking rain is:

اَللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا, اَللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا, اَللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا

"Allāhumma agitsnā, allāhumma agitsnā, allāhumma agitsnā."

Translation: "O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

Prayer for Rain During Salat Istisqa

Salat Istisqa is a voluntary prayer performed to beseech Allah SWT for rain during periods of drought or dryness. This prayer is usually offered collectively in an open field facing the qiblah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once led the Salat Istisqa during scorching weather in Madinah. He recited a prayer that contains praise, acknowledgment, supplication, and hope in Allah SWT. Here is the supplication cited from the wisdom archives:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ اَلْعَالَمِينَ, اَلرَّحْمَنِ اَلرَّحِيمِ, مَالِكِ يَوْمِ اَلدِّينِ, لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اَللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ, اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اَللَّهُ, لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ, أَنْتَ اَلْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ اَلْفُقَرَاءُ, أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ, وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ عَلَيْنَا قُوَّةً وَبَلاغًا إِلَى حِينٍ

"Alhamdulillāhi rabbil ālamīn. Arrahmānir rahīm. Māliki yaumid dīn. Lā ilāha illallāhu yaf'alu mā yurīd. Allahumma antallāhu. Lā ilāha illā anta. Antal ghaniyyu wa nahnul fuqara`. Anzil 'alainal ghaitsa waj'al mā anzalta 'alainā quwwatan wa balaghan ilā hīn."

Translation: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Owner of the Day of Judgment. There is no deity except Allah; He does what He wills. O Allah, You are the Lord, and there is no deity except You. You are self-sufficient, and we are the needy. Send down rain upon us and make what You have sent down a strength and a means of attaining our goal until a set time." (Reported by Abu Dawud)

Prayer for Hot Weather

Besides praying for rain, we can also pray to be spared from the scorching heat of hellfire, which is far more intense than the sun's heat. The heat of hellfire is one of the punishments prepared by Allah SWT for disbelievers and wrongdoers.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once uttered a supplication during hot weather, serving as an act of repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT. The following prayer is extracted from the book "Kitab Doa Mustajab Terlengkap: Bahasa Arab, Latin, dan Terjemahannya" by Ustadz H. Amrin Ali Al-Kasyaf:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ مَا أَشَدَّ حَرُّ هَذَ الْيَوْمِ، اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنْ حَرِّ خَهَنَّمَ

"Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu, maa asyadda harru haadzal yaum, allahumma ajirni min harri jahannama."

Translation: "There is no deity except Allah, the One without partners. How intense is the heat today? O Allah, protect me from the heat of Hell."

These are some of the prayers to recite during hot weather, as taught by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). May reciting these prayers grant us coolness and tranquility from Allah SWT. Ameen.