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Ammon News - By Banan Malkawi

AMMONNEWS - Thousands of Jordanians from throughout the Kingdom on Thursday afternoon headed to Al Hussein Sports City in Amman and mosques to perform Salat Al-Istisqa', a special prayer for rain.

Jordan's Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Salam Abbadi, called on citizens throughout the kingdom to head to the designated places in their governorates to perform the communal prayer "with sincere hearts," and urged citizens in a statement to 'Ammon News' to step up devotion and charity work.

The prayer was held at Amman International Stadium in the Sports City at 3:00 PM on Thursday. Mosques throughout the kingdom also held the communal prayer for rain.

Dr. Abbadi noted that Salat Al Istisqa' is a ritual practiced by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and followed by Muslims amidst delayed rainfall and shortages of water.

Several universities throughout the Kingdom also announced holding Salat Al Istisqa' communal prayers inside their campuses on Thursday, including Zarqa Private University, Jerash private University, and Amman University College.

A statement by the Ministry last Saturday urged Jordanians throughout the Kingdom to begin fasting for three days before Thursday's planned prayer.

"Since the rains have been delayed and because of the pressing need for water in the country, we call on you to hold open-air prayers for rain on Thursday afternoon," the statement said.

Last Thursday, hundreds of people, including women, children and the elderly, participated in a mass prayer organized by the Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Jordan is one of the world's 10 most water-impoverished countries, and suffers an annual water deficit of 500 million cubic meters and per capita share of water does not exceed 150 cubic metres per year, well below the water poverty line of 500 cubic meters per year.

Jordan consumes more than 900 million cubic meters of water every year, and relies mainly on rainfall to meet its water needs considering the lack of fresh water resources and drying rivers.

According to the water ministry, Jordan needs 1.6 billion cubic meters of water a year to meet its requirements by 2015.



** Petra photo