MUI Calls for Istisqa Prayer to End Drought and Forest Fires

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has appealed to all Muslims in Indonesia to perform the Istisqa prayer to pray for the descent of rain. The Istisqa prayer is intended as a spiritual effort to end the disasters of drought and forest and land fires (karhutla) currently affecting several regions in Indonesia.

This 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).

“Drought and dryness are affecting us, and forest fires are still occurring; let us pray that rain descends soon in the drought-stricken and fire-affected areas of Indonesia. We even invite the Ummah to perform the Istisqa prayer (to ask for rain),” said Kiai Cholil, as quoted from mui.or.id.

According to him, the Istisqa prayer is a form of spiritual endeavour 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 long dry season 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 Istisqa prayers in congregation.