Indonesia Hit by Drought and Forest Fires, MUI Urges Muslims to Perform Istisqa Prayer

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has urged all Muslims in Indonesia to perform Salat Istisqa to pray for the descent of rain. This is expected to end the drought and forest and land fires (karhutla) currently hitting several regions across the country.

The appeal was delivered directly by the Vice Chairman of MUI, KH M. Cholil Nafis, via his personal X social media account, @cholilnafis, on Thursday (3/9/2026).

“The dry season and drought are afflicting us, and forest fires are still occurring; let us pray that rain descends soon in Indonesia’s drought-stricken and fire-affected areas. We even invite the community to perform Salat Istisqa (to ask for rain),” said Kiai Cholil.

According to him, Salat Istisqa is a form of spiritual effort and submission to Allah SWT when facing prolonged drought disasters. In addition to the technical and physical efforts carried out by the government and firefighters on the ground, collective prayer is considered a very important moral and spiritual driver.

This year’s prolonged dry season phenomenon has triggered a clean water crisis in residential areas and expanded hotspots in several Indonesian forest regions. These conditions not only disrupt daily activities but also threaten public health due to exposure to smoke from forest fires.

Kiai Cholil hopes that mosque administrators, religious institutions, and the wider community in affected areas can immediately coordinate the performance of Salat Istisqa in congregation.