Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 3206
sahih

Narrated Ata:

`Aisha said If the Prophet (ﷺ) saw a cloud In the sky, he would walk to and fro in agitation, go out and come in, and the color of his face would change, and if it rained, he would feel relaxed." So `Aisha knew that state of his. So the Prophet (ﷺ) said, I don't know (am afraid), it may be similar to what happened to some people referred to in the Holy Qur'an in the following Verse: -- "Then when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said, 'This is a cloud bringing us rain!' Nay, but, it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened a wind wherein is severe torment." (46:24)

حَدَّثَنَا مَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا رَأَى مَخِيلَةً فِي السَّمَاءِ أَقْبَلَ وَأَدْبَرَ وَدَخَلَ وَخَرَجَ وَتَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُهُ، فَإِذَا أَمْطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ سُرِّيَ عَنْهُ، فَعَرَّفَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

‏ مَا أَدْرِي لَعَلَّهُ كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمٌ ‏{‏فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ‏}‏ ‏

‏‏.‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 59, Hadith 17
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 4, Book 54, Hadith 428 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet ﷺ was in constant fear of Allah, Most High, and always concerned that his nation may be subjected to Allah’s punishment because of the sins of their sinners. In this hadeeth, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that whenever the Prophet ﷺsaw rain clouds, he would march up and down, and his face would show signs of concern and distress because he feared that those clouds carried the punishment of Allah. However, once rain fell, his concern and worry would fade away. ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked him about that, so he said that his fear was out of his concern that it might be like the clouds that brought Allah’s tormentto thepeople of Prophet Hood (peace be upon him)about whom Allah, Exalted is He, said: {Then when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said, 'This is a cloud bringing us rain!' Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened.A wind wherein is severe torment.} [Quran 64:24]. If one were to ask, why did the Prophet ﷺfear Allah would punish his people while he was still alive among them,while Allah, Most High, says: {But Allah would never punish them while you ˹O Prophet˺ were in their midst.} [Quran 8:33] it has beensaid is that it is possible the ayah is specific and only applicable to those mentioned in the ayah, or it is only applicable to a particular time, or that the state of fear of Allah necessitates that he should not feel secure against Allah’s planning.In particular,the Prophet ﷺwould act to teach his nation, and one aspect of this is teaching them to never feel secure against Allah’s planning, because Allah, Most High, says: {Did they feel secure against Allah’s planning? None would feel secure from Allah’s planning except the losers.} [Quran 7:99]. This hadeeth shows that nobody should feel immune against Allah’s punishment and torment, and that we should be prepared by being mindful of Allah and resorting to Him in situations of fear and troubles. It reminds us to reflect on the previous nations who were subjected to Allah’s torment and punishment, to learn from their mistakes and avoid that which caused their punishment. It highlights the compassion and mercy of the Prophet ﷺ towards his nation, as Allah, Most High, descried him: {He is concerned by your suffering, anxious for your well-being, and gracious and merciful to the believers.} [Quran 9:128]..
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