Muslims Hold Special Prayers For Rain Across UK 

Muslims Hold Special Prayers For Rain Across UK 

Mosques across the UK are holding special prayers for rain today, Sunday, August 16, as prolonged dry weather raises concerns for farmers, wildlife and water supplies.

Muslim organizations have called for a National Day of Prayer, reviving the Prophetic tradition of Salat al-Istisqa, performed during drought.

Alongside seeking Allah’s mercy and rainfall, organizers are encouraging Muslims to give charity, conserve water and reflect on their responsibility to care for the environment and communities affected by the dry conditions.

The lack of rain in the UK is exceptionally serious, with nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales placed in official drought status following the driest July on record.

Over 45 million people face flash-drought conditions, parched landscapes, stressed river systems, and mounting restrictions on public water use.

England received only 7% of its average July rainfall, with parts of southern England receiving a mere 1%, driven by record-shattering summer heatwaves.

Roughly 71% of England is under drought conditions, impacting some 45 million individuals, with over 27 million people facing explicit water restrictions like hosepipe bans.

Reservoirs and groundwater levels are critically low, trees are shedding leaves early from drought stress, and wildlife habitats alongside agriculture are severely strained.

Authorities warn that normal seasonal rainfall will not fix the deep groundwater deficit, which requires months of above-average precipitation to fully recover.