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Prayer · Chapter 51

Chapter on The Prayer for Rain

Section:

21 narrations · In source reading order

Hadith 1939

Volume 1

English

Sharik ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Namir reported that he heard Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) say: "A man entered through a door facing the pulpit on Friday while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He stood facing the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, the livestock are perishing, and the roads are cut off. Pray to Allah to send us rain.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands 3 and said, 'O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain.' Anas said, 'By Allah, we did not see any cloud or trace of rain in the sky, and there were no houses or buildings between us and Mount Sal’.' Then a cloud appeared like a shield, and when it reached the middle of the sky, it spread and began to rain. By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week. The following Friday, a man entered through the same door while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He stood facing him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, the wealth is destroyed, and the roads are cut off. Pray to Allah to withhold the rain.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and said, 'O Allah, around us and not upon us. O Allah, upon the hills, mountains, valleys, and places where trees grow.' The rain stopped, and we walked out in the sunshine." Sharik asked Anas, "Was it the same man?" He replied, "I do not know."

Qur’an-related source paragraphs

And the saying of Allah, the Almighty: "Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers." (1) (Qur’an 71:10-11)

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  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1013 (unverified) 97% confidence
  • Candidate: Sahih Muslim 897a (unverified) 94% confidence

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Commentary and footnotes (6)

Chapter-heading commentary

He will send [rain].

(1) The statement: "He will send [rain]." The descent of rain is linked to seeking forgiveness, not to the prayer for rain. Therefore, the original practice is supplication and humility, not a specific prayer. This is mentioned in ‘Umdat al-Qari.

(2) These hadiths and narrations all testify to Abu Hanifah’s view that the prayer for rain (Istisqa) is based on supplication and seeking forgiveness, not a formal prayer.

Note 3

He raised his hands.

(3) The statement: "He raised his hands." This indicates that there was no turning of the cloak or facing a specific direction. It is clear evidence for Abu Hanifah that the prayer for rain is based on supplication and seeking forgiveness, not a formal prayer. This is mentioned by Al-‘Allamah Al-‘Ayni in ‘Umdat al-Qari.

Chapter-heading commentary

قوله

(۱) قوله: يرسل: علق نزول الغيث بالاستغفار لا بالصلاة، فكان الأصل فيه الدعاء والتضرع دون الصلاة. قاله في عمدة القاري».

قوله

(۲) قوله: فصل إلخ : فهذه الأحاديث والآثار كلها تشهد لأبي حنيفة أن الاستسقاء استغفار ودعاء.

Note 3

قوله

(۳) قوله: فرفع فيه: لا تحويل ولا استقبال، وفيه حجة واضحة لأبي حنيفة أن الاستسقاء دعاء واستغفار، ولا صلاة فيه. قاله العلامة العيني في عمدة القاري.

Hadith 1940

Volume 1

English

Shurahbil ibn al-Samt reported that he said to Ka’b ibn Murrah, "O Ka’b ibn Murrah, tell us about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but be careful." Ka’b said: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah for rain.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and said, 'O Allah, send us beneficial, nourishing, abundant, and timely rain that is not harmful.' The people had not even gathered when the rain came. They came to him and complained about the rain, saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, the houses are collapsing.' He said, 'O Allah, around us and not upon us.' The clouds dispersed to the right and left."
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  • Candidate: Sunan Ibn Majah 1269 (unverified) 90% confidence

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Hadith 1941

Volume 1

English

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicating, saying, 'O Allah, send us abundant, nourishing, beneficial, and timely rain that is not harmful.' The sky was filled with clouds, and it rained."
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  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1169 (unverified) 97% confidence

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Hadith 1942

Volume 1

English

Umayr, the freed slave of Abi al-Lahm, reported: "I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying for rain near the stones of Zayt, close to Az-Zawra. He stood supplicating for rain, raising his hands to the level of his face, not above his head." [Narrated by Abu Dawud] Tirmidhi and Nasa’i narrated something similar.
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  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1168 (unverified) 96% confidence
  • Candidate: Jami al-Tirmidhi 557 (unverified) 85% confidence · Validation similarity: 0.568

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Hadith 1943

Volume 1

English

Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported from his father, who reported from his grandfather (may Allah be pleased with him): "When the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain, he would say, 'O Allah, provide water for Your servants and animals, spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead land.'" [Narrated by Malik and Abu Dawud] Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Tabarani narrated something similar.
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  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1176 (unverified) 96% confidence

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Hadith 1946

Volume 1

English

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "A man complained to the Prophet (ﷺ) about the destruction of wealth and the hardship of his family. The Prophet (ﷺ) supplicated to Allah for rain, but he did not turn his cloak or face the qiblah."
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  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1018 (unverified) 95% confidence

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Commentary and footnotes (1)

Note 1

العرف میں مذکور ہے کہ عرب میں مال سے مراد بالعموم اونٹ لئے جاتے ہیں۔12) (جن پر عرب کی زندگی کا دارومدار ہے) ہلاک ہو رہے ہیں، اہل و عیال سخت تکلیف میں ہیں (حضور بارش کے لئے دعا فرمائیں) یہ سن کر بارش آنے کے لئے حضور دعا فرمائے۔ راوی کہتے ہیں کہ حضرت انس اس حدیث میں (دعاء استسقاء کے وقت) رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم استقبال قبلہ اور چادر الٹنے کا ذکر نہیں کئے اس سے معلوم ہوا کہ استقبال قبلہ اور چادر الٹنا دعائے استسقاء کے وقت سنت نہیں ہے، اگر یہ دونوں سنت ہوتے تو حضرت انس ان دونوں باتوں کا ضرور ذکر فرماتے، اسی لئے امام ابوحنیفہ رحمة اللہ علیہ فرماتے ہیں کہ چادر الٹنا دعائے استسقاء میں سنت نہیں ہے اگرچہ کہ بعض حدیثوں میں استسقاء میں چادر الٹنے کا ذکر ہے، اگر چادر الٹنا سنت ہوتا تو سب حدیثوں میں اس کا ذکر آتا، بعض حدیثوں میں چادر الٹنے کا ذکر ہونا اور بعض میں نہ ہونا استسقاء میں چادر الٹنے کے سنت ہونے پر دلالت نہیں کرتا، اب رہا استقبال قبلہ یعنی دعائے استسقاء کے وقت قبلہ رو ہونا تو اس بارے میں عمدة القاری میں لکھا ہے کہ اگر دعائے استسقاء آبادی میں ہو رہی ہو تو استقبال قبلہ اور چادر الٹنا دونوں دعائے استسقاء کے وقت متفقہ طور پر ثابت نہیں ہیں، اگر صحرا میں آبادی کے باہر دعائے استسقاء ہو رہی ہو تو چادر الٹنا اور استقبال قبلہ صاحبین کے پاس سنت ہے، (جیسا کہ رد المحتار میں مذکور ہے۔12) مقتدی طویل رواء نہ کریں صرف قبلہ رو ہو کر بیٹھیں اور دعاء کے وقت آمین کہتے رہیں، اور امام ابوحنیفہ رحمة اللہ علیہ سے صحرا میں دعائے استسقاء کرتے وقت قبلہ رو ہونے کے متعلق باوجود تحقیق کے کوئی روایت نہیں ملی۔) اس حدیث کی روایت بخاری اور مسلم نے متفقہ طور پر کی ہے۔

Hadith 1947

Volume 1

English

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for rain and turned his cloak, hoping that the drought would turn into abundance." 1 [Narrated by Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak] Al-Hakim said: "This is a hadith with an authentic chain, but Bukhari and Muslim did not include it."
Commentary and footnotes (3)

Note 1

Hoping that the drought would turn.

(1) The statement: "Hoping that the drought would turn." In Al-Hidayah, it is said: "This was an act of optimism." Ibn al-Humam said: "This acknowledges the act but denies its establishment as a Sunnah, as it was done for a reason unrelated to worship. Allah knows best." In Al-Mirqat, it is said: "The turning of the cloak was an act of optimism, as explicitly mentioned in Al-Mustadrak from the hadith of Jabir, which Al-Hakim declared authentic. He said, 'He turned his cloak so that the drought would turn into abundance.' In Tawalat al-Tabarani, it is narrated from Anas: 'He turned his cloak so that the drought would turn into fertility.'"

Note 1

قوله

(۱) قوله: ليتحول وقال في «الهداية»: وما رواه كان تفاؤلا . قال ابن الهمام: اعتراف برايته ومنع استنانه؛ لأنه فعل لأمر لا يرجع إلى معنى العبادة، والله أعلم. ثم قال: واعلم أن كون التحويل كان تفاؤلا، جاء مصرحا به في المستدرك» من حديث جابر، وصححه، قال: وحوّل رداءه؛ لتحول القحط. وفي طوالات الطبراني من حديث أنس: وقلب رداءه؛ لكي ينقلب القحط إلى الخصب. قاله في «المرقاة».

Note 1

اس حدیث میں چادر الٹنے کی وجہ یہ بتلائی گئی ہے کہ جس طرح چادر کا ہر جز ء الٹا گیا ہے اسی طرح موجودہ حالت میں انقلاب ہو کر بجائے قحط کے خوشحالی آ جائے اس سے معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ چادر الٹنا دعائے استسقاء کے وقت سنت اور عبادت نہیں ہے بلکہ یہ عرض کرنا ہے کہ الٰہی ہماری حالت میں انقلاب پیدا کر کے خوشحالی لائیے، اس سے محض فال نیک لینا مقصود تھا نہ کہ حضور کا چادر الٹنے کو سنت اور عبادت بنانے کا ارادہ تھا، اس لئے ہر حدیث میں دعاء استسقاء کے وقت چادر الٹنے کا ذکر نہیں ہے، یہی وجہ ہے کہ امام ابوحنیفہ رحمۃ اللہ علیہ دعائے استسقاء کے وقت چادر الٹنے کو سنت ہونا نہیں فرمائے ہیں۔ اس حدیث کی روایت حاکم نے مستدرک میں کی ہے اور حاکم نے کہا ہے کہ اس حدیث کی سند بخاری اور مسلم کی شرط کے موافق ہے اور صحیح ہے، اگرچیکہ انہوں نے اپنی اپنی کتابوں میں اس حدیث کی روایت نہیں کی ہے۔

Hadith 1948

Volume 1

English

Hisham ibn Ishaq ibn Abdullah ibn Kinanah reported from his father: "I asked Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) about the Prophet’s (ﷺ) prayer for rain. He said, 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out in a humble state, wearing simple clothes, and sat on the pulpit. He did not deliver a sermon like yours, but he continuously supplicated, humbled himself, and said the takbir. He prayed two rak’ahs as he prayed on Eid.'" [Narrated by Nasa’i, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah] Tirmidhi said: "This is a Hasan Sahih Hadith."
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  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1165 (unverified) 96% confidence
  • Candidate: Jami al-Tirmidhi 558 (unverified) 95% confidence
  • Candidate: Sunan Ibn Majah 1266 (unverified) 94% confidence
  • Candidate: Sunan al-Nasa'i 1506 (unverified) 88% confidence

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Commentary and footnotes (1)

Note 1

نماز پڑھنے میں ہے، تکبیرات عیدین کہنے میں نہیں ہے، اس لئے طبرانی کی روایت میں آیا ہے صلاۃ استسقاء میں صلاۃ عید کی طرح زائد تکبیرات نہیں کہے گئے، اب رہی یہ نماز تو یہ استسقاء نہیں تھی، اگر نماز استسقاء ہوتی تو پہلے نماز استسقاء پڑھی جاتی اور بعد خطبہ یا دعاء کی جاتی، جیسا کہ صاحبین اور امام شافعی رحمۃ اللہ علیہم سے ایسا ہی مروی ہے، اس حدیث میں پہلے دعاء کی گئی ہے اور بعد نماز پڑھی گئی، اس کی وجہ یہ تھی کہ آپ کی دعاء مقبول ہوگئی۔ دوسرے حدیثوں سے معلوم ہوا کہ دعاء کے ساتھ ہی ابر اٹھا اور آثار بارش کے شروع ہوگئے تھے، اس کا شکریہ آپ دو رکعت پڑھ کر اداء فرمائے، اسی لئے امام ابو حنیفہ رحمۃ اللہ علیہ فرماتے ہیں کہ استسقاء کے لئے صرف دعاء ہے نماز اور خطبہ نہیں ہے۔ اس حدیث کی روایت نسائی، ترمذی، ابوداؤد اور ابن ماجہ نے کی ہے اور ترمذی نے کہا ہے کہ یہ حدیث حسن صحیح ہے۔

Hadith 1949

Volume 1

English

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (ﷺ) did not raise his hands in any supplication except during the prayer for rain, when he would raise them so high that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen."
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  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1031 (unverified) 99% confidence
  • Candidate: Sahih Muslim 895a (unverified) 93% confidence

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Hadith 1950

Volume 1

English

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain and pointed the backs of his hands toward the sky." [Narrated by Muslim] Section: 1
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Commentary and footnotes (1)

Note 1

The prayer is not prescribed,

(1) The response to the hadiths mentioning prayer is that the Prophet (ﷺ) performed it on one occasion and omitted it on another. This does not indicate that it is a Sunnah but rather that it is permissible. Therefore, Abu Hanifah did not say, "The prayer is not prescribed," but rather, "It is not a Sunnah." This is mentioned by Al-‘Allamah Al-‘Ayni in ‘Umdat al-Qari.

Hadith 1951

Volume 1

English

Abdullah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out with the people to the prayer ground to pray for rain. He led them in two rak’ahs, reciting aloud in them, faced the qiblah, supplicated, raised his hands, and turned his cloak when he faced the qiblah."
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  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1024 (unverified) 93% confidence
  • Candidate: Sahih Muslim 894b (unverified) 86% confidence

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Commentary and footnotes (1)

Chapter-heading commentary

قوله

(۱) قوله: فصل: والجواب عن هذه الأحاديث التي فيها الصلاة أنه الله فعلها مرَّةً وتركها أخرى، وذا لا يدل على السنية، وإنما يدل على الجواز. فلذا أبو حنيفة لم يقل: «إن الصلاة فيه غير مشروعة، بل يقول: «إنها ليست بسنة» كذا قال العلامة العيني في عمدة القاري».

Hadith 1952

Volume 1

English

Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr reported that he heard Abbad ibn Tamim narrate from his uncle (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet (ﷺ) went out to the prayer ground to pray for rain, faced the qiblah, prayed two rak’ahs, and turned his cloak."
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  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1027 (unverified) 88% confidence

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Hadith 1953

Volume 1

English

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: "People complained to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the lack of rain. He ordered a pulpit to be set up for him at the prayer ground and appointed a day for the people to gather. Aisha said, 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out when the sun’s edge appeared, sat on the pulpit, said the takbir, praised Allah, and then said, "You have complained of drought in your lands and the delay of rain beyond its usual time. Allah has commanded you 2 to supplicate to Him and has promised to respond to you." Then he said, "All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, the Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah, who does what He wills. O Allah, You are Allah; there is no god but You. You are the Rich, and we are the poor. Send down rain upon us and make what You send down a strength and provision for us until a time." He raised his hands and kept them raised until the whiteness of his armpits became visible. Then he turned his back to the people and turned his cloak while they raised their hands. He then faced the people, descended, and prayed two rak’ahs. Allah created a cloud that thundered and flashed with lightning, then it rained by Allah’s permission. Before he reached the mosque, the valleys were flowing with water. When he saw how quickly they ran for shelter, he smiled until his molars became visible and said, "I bear witness that Allah has power over all things, and I am His servant and Messenger."'" [Narrated by Abu Dawud] Shaykh Ibn al-Humam said: "It is a Gharib Hadith with a Hasan chain."
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  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1173 (unverified) 99% confidence

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Commentary and footnotes (3)

Note 2

Allah has commanded you.

(2) The statement: "Allah has commanded you." Shaykh Ibn al-Humam said: "This speech is what is meant by the sermon, as some have said. Perhaps Imam Ahmad considered it Gharib or Mudtarib, as the sermon is mentioned before the prayer in the earlier narration of Abu Hurairah and after it in others." In Tabi’ al-Athar, it is said: "What is narrated about the sermon is metaphorically interpreted as supplication and remembrance."

Note 2

قوله

(٢) قوله: وقد أمركم: قال الشيخ ابن الهمام الخ: وذلك الكلام هو المراد بالخطبة كما قاله بعضهم. ولعل الإمام أحمد أعله بهذه الغرابة، أو بالاضطراب؛ فإن الخطبة فيه مذكورة قبل الصلاة فيما تقدم من حديث أبي هريرة بعدها وكذا في غيره انتهى. وفي تابع الآثار» وما روى من الخطبة يحمل على الدعاء والذكر مجازا.

Note 1

ہوئے دعا کی گئی ہے تو وہ خطبہ نہیں تھا، بلکہ صرف دعا ہی تھی اور یہاں نماز سے پہلے دعاء ہوئی ہے، حضور کے استسقاء میں مختلف طریقے رہے ہیں، کبھی دعاء اور خطبہ پہلے اور نماز استسقاء بعد ہوئی ہے اور کبھی نماز استسقاء پہلے اور خطبہ و دعاء بعد ہوئے ہیں مگر دعاء اور خطبہ نماز کے بعد ہونا اور نماز سے پہلے ہونا یہ حضور کا آخری عمل ہے، اس لئے صاحبین فرماتے ہیں کہ استسقاء میں پہلے نماز ہونا چاہئے اور خطبہ و دعاء بعد میں) راوی کہتے ہیں کہ اتنے میں اللہ تعالیٰ نے ایک ابر بھیجا جو گرجتا اور چمکتا ہوا آیا اور اللہ کے حکم سے برسنے لگا، حضور عیدگاہ سے مسجد نبوی تشریف لانے نہ پائے تھے کہ نالے بہہ نکلے حضور لوگوں کو دیکھے کہ لوگ بارش سے بچنے کے لئے سایہ کی طرف بھاگے آرہے ہیں یہ دیکھ کر آپ اتنا ہنس پڑے کہ آپ کے دندان مبارک نظر آنے لگے (دعاء جلدی قبول ہونے اور بارش کے آنے کو دیکھ کر) حضور فرمانے لگے الٰہی! بیشک آپ ایسی ہی قدرت والے ہیں (بہت جلدی سے ہماری دعاء قبول فرما کر بارش بھیج کر ہم کو قحط سالی سے بچائے ہیں) اور یہ بھی میں کہتا ہوں کہ میں اللہ کا بندہ اور اس کا رسول ہوں (اسی لئے اللہ تعالیٰ میری دعاء جلد قبول فرمائے۔) اس حدیث کی روایت ابوداؤد نے کی ہے۔

Hadith 1954

Volume 1

English

Abdullah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to the prayer ground to pray for rain. He turned his cloak when he faced the qiblah, placing the right side over his left shoulder and the left side over his right shoulder, then supplicated to Allah."
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1163 (unverified) 60% confidence

Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.

Hadith 1955

Volume 1

English

Abdullah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for rain while wearing a black cloak. He wanted to hold its lower edge, but when it became heavy, he flipped it over his shoulders."
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1164 (unverified) 92% confidence

Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.

Hadith 1956

Volume 1

English

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to pray for rain in a humble state, showing humility, reverence, and supplication."
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
  • Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 1165 (unverified) 96% confidence
  • Candidate: Jami al-Tirmidhi 558 (unverified) 95% confidence
  • Candidate: Sunan Ibn Majah 1266 (unverified) 91% confidence

Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.

Hadith 1958

Volume 1

English

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw rain, he would say, 'O Allah, make it a beneficial downpour.'"
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
  • Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1032 (unverified) 99% confidence

Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.

Hadith 1959

Volume 1

English

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when it rained. He removed his garment so that the rain would fall on him. We asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, why did you do this?' He replied, 'Because it has just come from my Lord.'"
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
  • Candidate: Sahih Muslim 898 (unverified) 99% confidence

Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.