Sana'a - Saba:
The Yemeni Fatwa House and the Yemeni Scholars Association called on the Yemeni people to go out at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, to perform the Istisqa' prayer.
In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the House and the Association urged the Yemeni people in the free governorates, as well as in all ministries, institutions, universities, schools, and government facilities, to cooperate with the organizing committee for the Istisqa' prayer and to go out to perform it with repentance, supplication, seeking refuge, good faith in Allah, and a resolve to uphold righteousness and absolve themselves of all rights and grievances.
The statement said: "We call upon all people to fear Allah as He should be feared, to sincerely turn to Him, to repent sincerely, to raise their hands in supplication before Him, to adhere to His religion, to abide by His noble and tolerant Sharia, to seek forgiveness for all sins and transgressions, and to avoid apparent and hidden indecencies, so that Allah may bestow abundant rain upon His servants and the country and grant them more moral strength and the ability to confront the enemies of Allah. Allah Almighty says: 'O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and increase you in strength to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals.'"
The statement added, "Among the greatest sins and most dangerous transgressions that anger Allah, distance us from His mercy, withhold rain, and cut off livelihood are turning away from Allah, ignoring His remembrance, neglecting to thank Him, forgetting His blessings, denying His religion, neglecting His prescribed duties, and evading the implementation of His wise and merciful rulings, which, when implemented, bring blessings. Allah Almighty says: 'And if only they had upheld the Torah and the Gospel and what was revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed from above them and from beneath their feet.
Among them is a moderate community, but many of them - evil is what they do.'" He pointed out that "the most important means of drawing closer to Allah and the blessed acts of obedience that bring down rain and bring about sustenance include faith in Allah, piety, adherence to His guidance, and constant repentance to Allah with humility, submission, and need. It also includes being keen on giving charity, bringing joy to the hearts of believing men and women, being kind to them, meeting their needs, and checking on the well-being of the needy, the destitute, and the weak, the poor, and the destitute."
The statement emphasized that "the drought, the delayed rainfall, and the advent of calamities are caused by sins, transgressions, negligence, and indifference to the rights of the Creator and His creation, despair of the mercy of the Most Merciful, Who accepts the repentance of those who repent, forgives the sins of those who seek forgiveness, and erases the mistakes of those who repent. It also includes the failure to review and correct oneself when calamities strike and when hardships become widespread. No calamity befalls except as a result of sin, and no calamity is removed except through repentance."
He continued, "The Yemeni Fatwa House and the Yemeni Scholars Association, while calling on the entire Yemeni people to perform the Istisqa' prayer and demonstrate their reliance on Allah, emphasize the necessity of fearing Allah, being steadfast, seeking forgiveness, and reforming one's relationship with Allah, changing one's psyche, striving to be fair to people, restoring rights, and resolving injustices."
The House and the Association also called for unity, unity, reconciliation, and the necessity of continuing the weekly demonstrations in support of Gaza. They also called for the remembrance of Allah in public marches and demonstrations, and for sincere faith and practical response to Allah, His Messenger, and the teachings of guidance.
They emphasized the necessity of paying zakat in full with a pure heart, sincere intentions for Allah, and turning to Allah in supplication with insistence and certainty of a response. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Call upon Allah while being certain of a response, and know that Allah Almighty does not answer the supplication of a distracted, heedless heart." They also emphasized avoiding what is forbidden and seeking good and lawful sustenance, for through it supplications are answered and blessings are opened.