In our country, when the people face a drought, the people of every district agree to prepare a feast called "al-Ma'ruf."

Question:
Yes. He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: In our country, when the people face a drought and the drought persists, the people of every district agree to prepare a feast called al-Ma'ruf. They cook whatever meat and food they have gathered and feed the poor and the people of the Qur'an. They say, "We seek nearness to Allah through feeding them so that He will send us rain," even though they also perform the prayer for rain. Is their action prescribed?

Answer:
The prayer for rain is a confirmed recommended practice, and charity is also a confirmed recommended practice, but it is not restricted to a specific form; it is absolute charity given to the poor and those in need. As for restricting it to cooking food and gathering together, this has no basis. This specific form has no basis; it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). As for the charity itself, its basis is a recommended practice. It is possible that the poor would prefer that you give them charity while they are in their homes, rather than them coming and tiring themselves out just to eat a mouthful. They gather to eat it. Giving him a real is better than tiring him out so that he comes to eat a single mouthful. Yes.