Amidst peoples having faith in rule by man-made laws in preference to one by Divine laws, even at a time when the world has concern for global warming, the call for offering prayers for rain seems to be a cry in wilderness. They have the cheek and temerity to try cloud seeding experiment for artificial rains in case natural rains are insufficient. This is nothing less than undue human interference in the universe of God, Who is its Master and Sustainer. But, as the believers would have it, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) last week called on mosques and other houses of worship across America to offer prayers for rain to help relieve the drought that is going to impact more than half of the country that claims to be lone super power. Citing a tradition of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said the Holy Messenger offered Salatul Istisqa during times of drought. Also, citing the verse 11:52 from the Qur’ān, Awad said he believed in the power of prayer, through which Americans of all faiths could provide ‘a spiritual component to help relieve the nation from this crippling drought’. This is the best option for humans to turn to God the Almighty to seek His Forgiveness for sins and invoke His Mercy and ask Him for abundant rains from the sky. Back home, in the BJP government of Karnataka headed by chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who is described as a ‘self-proclaimed atheist’, a sum of `17.5 crore has been earmarked to be spent to offer prayers in temples across the state to invoke gods for rains to counter the worst drought and scarcity of drinking water seen in the last 42 years. And, according to the Muzarai (religious endowment) minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, they have released `5000 to each of the 35,000 temples in the state to conduct special poojas on July 27 and August 2. Manu Aiyappa of The Times of India (July 20) calls this offering of special poojas a ‘superstitious’ act. He also cites Poojary’s predecessor, Krissnaiah Setty, who in 2008-09 ordered daily puja, distribution of Tirupati laddus and Ganga jal in all government temples for the welfare of BJP government and Yeddyurappa. What Aiyappa did not say is that rains will come down with the sole pleasure of God the Almighty while Poojary’s bid to release `17.5 crore from the state exchequer might be the BJP government’s bid to provide monetary benefit for the temples.
Prayer For Rain, A Superstition Or An Act Of Devotion
Amidst peoples having faith in rule by man-made laws in preference to one by Divine laws, even at a time when the world has concern for global warming, the call for offering prayers for rain seems to be a cry in wilderness.
