Prayer for Rain - Section 1

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said God's Messenger took the people out to the place of prayer and prayed for rain. He led them in two <i>rak'as</i> in the course of which he recited from the Qur'an in a loud voice. He faced the <i>qibla</i> making supplication, raised his hands and turned round his cloak when he faced the <i>qibla</i>. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالنَّاسِ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى يَسْتَسْقِي فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَهَرَ فِيهِمَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ يَدْعُو وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ حِينَ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ

Anas said the Prophet (ﷺ) was not accustomed to raise his hands in any supplication he made except when praying for rain. He would then raise them high enough for the whiteness under his armpits to be visible. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ إِلَّا فِي الِاسْتِسْقَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْفَعُ حَتَّى يرى بَيَاض إبطَيْهِ

He said the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain pointing the back of his hands to the sky. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اسْتَسْقَى فَأَشَارَ بِظَهْرِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A'isha told that when God's Messenger saw rain he said, “O God, send a beneficial downpour." Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا رَأَى الْمَطَرَ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ صيبا نَافِعًا» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas said:

A shower of rain fell when we were with God’s Messenger, so he removed his garment till some of the rain fell on him. We asked him why he did this, and he replied, “Because it has recently been with its Lord." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: أَصَابَنَا وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَطَرٌ قَالَ: فَحَسَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَوْبَهُ حَتَّى أَصَابَهُ مِنَ الْمَطَرِ فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لِمَ صَنَعْتَ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: «لِأَنَّهُ حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بربه» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said God’s Messenger went out to the place of prayer and prayed for rain. When he faced the <i>qibla</i> he turned round his cloak, putting its right side on his left shoulder and its left side on his right shoulder, then made supplication to God. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى فَاسْتَسْقَى وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ حِينَ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَجَعَلَ عِطَافَهُ الْأَيْمَنَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ الْأَيْسَرِ وَجَعَلَ عِطَافَهُ الْأَيْسَرَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ الْأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ دَعَا الله. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

He said God’s Messenger prayed for rain wearing a khamisa* of his. He wanted to reverse it from top to bottom, but when it was too heavy he turned it round on his shoulders. * A black square robe with ornamented borders. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن عبد الله بن زيد أَنَّهُ قَالَ: اسْتَسْقَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعَلَيْهِ خَمِيصَةٌ لَهُ سَوْدَاءُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَسْفَلَهَا فَيَجْعَلَهُ أَعْلَاهَا فَلَمَّا ثَقُلَتْ قَلَبَهَا عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ

‘Umair client of Abul Lahm said he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying for rain at Ahjar az-Zait1 near az-Zaura’,2 standing, making supplication, praying for rain and raising his hands in front of his face, but not lifting them above his head. 1. A part of Medina which is said to have got the name because of the black stones there which looked as if they had been smeared with oil. 2. A house in Medina. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

وَعَن عُمَيْر مولى آبي اللَّحْم أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَسْقِي عِنْدَ أَحْجَارِ الزَّيْتِ قَرِيبًا مِنَ الزَّوْرَاءِ قَائِمًا يَدْعُو يَسْتَسْقِي رَافِعًا يَدَيْهِ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ لَا يُجَاوِزُ بِهِمَا رَأْسَهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وروى التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ نَحوه

Ibn 'Abbas said God’s Messenger went out (i.e. to pray for rain) wearing old clothes, with a humble and lowly manner, making petition. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعْنِي فِي الِاسْتِسْقَاءِ مُتَبَذِّلًا مُتَوَاضِعًا مُتَخَشِّعًا مُتَضَرِّعًا. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, quoted his grandfather as saying that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain he said, "O God, provide water for Your servants and Your cattle, display Your mercy and give life to Your dead land.” Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اسْتَسْقَى قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهِيمَتَكَ وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ» . رَوَاهُ مَالك وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir said he saw God’s Messenger raising his hands in supplication. Then he said, “O God, give us rain which will replenish us, abundant, fertilising and profitable, not injurious, granting it now without delay.” He said that thereupon the sky became overcast. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوَاكِئُ فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيثًا مَرِيئًا مُرِيعًا نَافِعًا غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ» . قَالَ: فَأَطْبَقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّمَاءُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

'A’isha said the people complained to God’s Messenger of the lack of rain, so he gave orders for a pulpit, and when it was set up for him in the place of prayer he appointed a day for the people on which they should come out. ‘A’isha said God’s Messenger came out when the rim of the sun appeared and sat down on the pulpit. Having declared God’s greatness and expressed His praise, he said, “You have complained of drought in your abodes and of delay in receiving rain at the beginning of its season, but God has ordered you to supplicate Him and has promised that He would answer your prayers.” Then he said, “Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Master of the day of judgment. There is no god but God who does what He wishes. O God, You are God than whom there is no god, the Rich, while we are the poor. Send down rain upon us and make what You sendest down a strength and satisfaction for us for a time.” He then raised his hands and kept raising them till the whiteness under his armpits was visible. He then turned his back to the people and inverted (or, turned round) his cloak while keeping his hands aloft. He then faced the people, descended and prayed two <i>rak'as</i>. God then produced a cloud and a storm of thunder and lightning came on. Then it rained by God’s permission, and before he reached his mosque streams were flowing. When he saw the speed with which the people sought shelter he laughed till his back teeth were visible. Then he said, “I testify that God is omnipotent and that I am God’s servant and Messenger.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَن عَائِشَة قَالَتْ: شَكَا النَّاسُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُحُوطَ الْمَطَرِ فَأَمَرَ بِمِنْبَرٍ فَوُضِعَ لَهُ فِي الْمُصَلَّى وَوَعَدَ النَّاسَ يَوْمًا يَخْرُجُونَ فِيهِ. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ بَدَا حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَقَعَدَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَكَبَّرَ وَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عزوجل ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّكُمْ شَكَوْتُمْ جَدْبَ دِيَارِكُمْ وَاسْتِئْخَارَ الْمَطَرِ عَنْ إِبَّانِ زَمَانِهِ عَنْكُمْ وَقَدْ أَمَرَكُمُ الله عزوجل أَنْ تَدْعُوهُ وَوَعَدَكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ لَكُمْ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ: «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ملك يَوْمِ الدِّينِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ. أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ لَنَا قُوَّةً وَبَلَاغًا إِلَى حِينٍ» ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَتْرُكِ الرَّفْعَ حَتَّى بَدَا بَيَاضُ إِبِطَيْهِ ثُمَّ حَوَّلَ إِلَى النَّاسِ ظَهْرَهُ وَقَلَبَ أَوْ حَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ وَهُوَ رَافِعُ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَنَزَلَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَأَنْشَأَ اللَّهُ سَحَابَةً فَرَعَدَتْ وَبَرَقَتْ ثُمَّ أَمْطَرَتْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ مَسْجِدَهُ حَتَّى سَالَتِ السُّيُولُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى سُرْعَتَهُمْ إِلَى الْكن ضحك صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم حَتَّى بَدَت نَوَاجِذه فَقَالَ: «أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Anas said that when they experienced a drought ‘Umar b. al-Khattab prayed for rain by virtue of al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and said, "O God, we used to supplicate You by virtue of our prophet and You didst give us water. We are now supplicating You by virtue of our prophet’s uncle, so give us water.” He said that they were then given water. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ كَانَ إِذْ قحطوا استسقى بالبعاس بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّنَا فَتَسْقِينَا وَإِنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِعَمِّ نَبِيِّنَا فَاسْقِنَا. قَالَ: فَيُسْقَوْنَ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

Abu Huraira said:

I heard God’s Messenger say that a prophet took the people out to pray for rain, and when he saw an ant raising some of its legs to the sky he said, “Return, for your prayers have been answered because of this ant.” Daraqutni transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:

خَرَجَ نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِالنَّاسِ يَسْتَسْقِي فَإِذا هُوَ بنملة رَافِعَة بعض قوائهما إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ: ارْجِعُوا فَقَدِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَكُمْ من أجل هَذِه النملة

. رَوَاهُ الدَّارَقُطْنِيّ