Palembang Shrouded in Haze, Residents Hold Rain Prayer

Palembang, MINA – Amid thick haze from forest and land fires, Muslims in Palembang, South Sumatra, held the Istisqa (rain prayer) to beseech Allah SWT for rain to fall soon.

The sunnah prayer for rain was organized by the South Sumatra Provincial Government together with the community at the Griya Agung courtyard in Palembang on Tuesday.

The Istisqa prayer served as a spiritual effort by the community to cope with the dry season and the haze that has blanketed Palembang in recent days. The smoky conditions have even disrupted visibility and daily activities due to the impact of forest and land fires in several areas of South Sumatra.

In addition to dealing with the haze, parts of Palembang have also begun experiencing pressure from the drought. The Palembang City Government reported that three districts are facing a clean water crisis, so water distribution using tankers has been prepared to assist residents in need.

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Monitoring data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) shows that Palembang’s air quality still requires vigilance. On August 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM WIB, the PM2.5 concentration in the Talang Betutu area was recorded at 57.9 micrograms per cubic meter, falling into the unhealthy category.

The Istisqa prayer was also held in several other regions facing drought and the threat of forest and land fires. The Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) had previously called on Muslims in various regions to perform the Istisqa prayer as an effort to face prolonged drought and forest and land fires.

This spiritual effort also serves as a reminder for the public to protect the environment and avoid activities that could trigger fires.

Amid the dry season conditions, preventing forest and land fires, using water wisely, and complying with government appeals are important measures to reduce the impact of disasters.

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The Istisqa prayer is expected to become a moment to strengthen prayers while making collective efforts for rain to fall soon and for the haze to end.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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