19.10.2026 16:12
Author Ali Rıza Demircan addressed the issue of drought and rain prayer in his article titled “Shouldn’t We Think? Who Can Make It Rain for Us?”. Stating, based on verses and hadiths, that water is a divine blessing, Demircan called for avoiding waste against drought, giving zakat, and increasing social aid. Demircan described the rain prayer as the last resort to be turned to after human efforts.
The theologian and writer Ali Rıza Demircan addressed the issue of drought in his article published in Mirat Haber. Demircan stated that rain falls in a measured manner through God's mercy and that people also bear responsibility in this regard.
“WATER IS A DIVINE BLESSING” Demircan, who began his article by recalling that about three-quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by seas, included verses from the chapters Zukhruf, Mulk, Hud, and Shura. Emphasizing that water is a divine blessing, Demircan stated that even when performing ablution by a stream, waste should be avoided.
The theologian and writer Ali Rıza Demircan HE ESTABLISHED A LINK BETWEEN DROUGHT AND SINS Arguing that drought is not only a natural event, Demircan linked drought to sins such as oppression, usury, and adultery. Demircan, who argued that repentance was therefore necessary, also counted giving zakat and increasing social aid for those in need among the spiritual and social measures that should be taken against drought.
CALL TO THE AUTHORITIES Addressing the authorities as well in his article, Demircan called for expanding social aid and taking concrete measures against drought. Demircan stated that the rain prayer is the last resort after all human efforts. Demircan described those who criticize the rain prayer as “people lacking scientific reason.”
PROPHET SOLOMON AND THE STORY OF THE ANT To support his views, Demircan also referred to hadiths found in Ibn Majah. The writer also included the story, transmitted in Hakim's work al-Mustadrak, about an ant praying for rain during the time of Prophet Solomon.