One Month of Drought Prompts Bintan Regency Administration to Hold Istisqa Prayer

The Bintan Regency Administration in the Riau Islands held Istisqa prayers together with civil servants and the community as an effort to address the dry season that has persisted for the past month. The regency-level Istisqa prayer was centred at the Bupati’s Office courtyard on Thursday (26/3/2026), coinciding with 6 Syawal 1447 Hijriyah. Similar activities will also be carried out in all sub-districts in Bintan. “We have already taken various strategic steps. As a complement to our efforts, we perfect them with Istisqa prayers to beseech Allah SWT to send down rain and end this drought,” said Bintan Regent Roby after the prayer. Roby stated that the Istisqa prayer also serves as a moment for the government and community to seek forgiveness and increase istighfar for sins to Allah SWT. He emphasised that, as Muslims, it is believed that rain is the will of Allah SWT. “May our prayers be answered by Allah SWT and rain falls in the coming days,” he said. Meanwhile, KH Rustam Efendi in his sermon urged all congregations to continuously seek forgiveness and repent to Allah SWT. According to him, besides scientific factors, the faithful believe that calamities can also occur due to human actions. “Continue to seek forgiveness from Allah. Whatever our needs, begin with submission that we are part of the cause of the difficulties, and Allah is where we seek help,” he said. Previously, the Bintan Regency Administration had distributed clean water aid gradually to around 24,000 household heads affected by the drought over the past month.