The Ruling on the Prayer for Rain and the Importance of Hastening to It

Question:
The prayer for rain will be held tomorrow. I ask you to kindly offer advice encouraging the youth and others to attend it, and may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed for us the prayer for rain. When the land became drought-stricken in his time in Madinah, he went out with the people and sought rain from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in the morning. He appointed a day for them to go out, so they went out, and he prayed with them like the prayer of the festival, delivered a sermon to them, reminded them, and called upon Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for help, and He helped him. On some occasions, he would call for help in the Friday sermon, (peace and blessings be upon him).
Therefore, believers should hasten to this matter, for it is one of the symbols of Islam. The youth and others should participate in this great act of worship and not be absent from it, along with repentance to Allah, seeking forgiveness, and giving charity. For mercy toward the servants is among the causes of Allah’s mercy, as in the hadith: . It is recommended for Muslims to give charity before and after the prayer for rain; they should give charity, show mercy to the poor, and do good to them, for this is among the causes of Allah’s mercy. Among these causes is also repentance to Allah from sins, for sins are among the causes of withholding [rain], and repentance is among the causes of sustenance. Thus, it is obligatory to hasten to repent from all sins, for both men and women, and for both the young and the old.
It is prescribed for the believers to hasten to this prayer and participate in it, as the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) did, and as his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) didand He was pleased with them.