Arau: The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, today took part in a significant Al-Istisqa' prayer for rain, attended by nearly 1,000 state leaders and residents at the Dataran Istiadat, Istana Arau.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) confirmed that the 8 am prayer was also attended by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and the Second Heir to the Perlis throne, Syed Sirajuddin Areeb Putra Al-Haj Jamalullail. The event was led by Deputy Director of Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) Ahmad Sirajuddin Abdul Satar, who also delivered the sermon.

The Al-Istisqa' prayer, as explained by MAIPs, was conducted to seek divine intervention for rain amidst the ongoing drought. The council emphasized that the prayer serves as a reminder for Muslims to strengthen their relationship with Allah SWT and reflect on their actions, acknowledging that blessings such as rain are granted by His will.

Additionally, MAIPs announced that the Al-Istisqa' du'a will be included in Friday sermons across mosques in Perlis, following guidance from the Perlis State Mufti, from tomorrow onwards until further notice from JAIPs. The council encouraged residents to increase their du'a recitations and seek forgiveness to bring rain and protection from harm during the prolonged dry season.

The state is facing a challenging situation, with Perlis recording 523 open burning cases as of March 24, a significant increase from 162 cases during the same period last year. Senior Fire Officer I Wan Mohd Hamizi Wan Mohd Zin of the Perlis Fire and Rescue Department attributed this rise partly to the hot weather, urging the public to properly dispose of cigarette butts and maintain clean surroundings.

Furthermore, Perlis Meteorological Office director Nur Syarafina Shafi'e reported that the latest MetMalaysia update placed Perlis at Level 1 (yellow) alert, highlighting the seriousness of the current weather conditions.