Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man entered the mosque on a Friday through the gate facing Dār al-Qadā’ while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing delivering the sermon. The man stood in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: O Messenger of Allah, the properties (livestock) have perished and the roads have been cut off. So supplicate Allah to send us rain. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and then said: "O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain." Anas said: By Allah, we could see no cloud or even a small patch of cloud in the sky, and there was not a single house or dwelling between us and (Mount) Sal‘. He said: Then, all of a sudden, a big cloud like a shield appeared from behind it and when it arrived in the middle of the sky, it spread out and rained. By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week. On Friday, a man entered through the same gate while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. The man stood in front of him and said: O Messenger of Allah, the properties have perished and the roads have been cut off. So supplicate Allah to withhold the rain. He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and said: "O Allah, around us and not upon us. O Allah, on the hills, the small mountains, the valleys, and the places where trees grow." He said: The rain stopped, and we came out walking in the sunshine. Sharīk said: I asked Anas ibn Mālik: Was it the same first man? He replied: "I do not know."
Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 1014, 933, 1013, 1015, 1021, 1033, 6093, 6342), Muslim (No. 897a), An-Nasa’i (No. 1517, 1518, 1528) and Ahmad (No. 12481, 13197, 13246, 13364).
A Bedouin entered the Prophet's Mosque on a Friday through a gate on the west side of the mosque, facing the house of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him), while the Prophet (ﷺ) was standing and delivering the sermon. The man faced the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: O Messenger of Allah, the livestock have perished, and the roads have been cut off because the animals that carry people have died or grown too weak from hunger. So pray to Allah to send us rain. So, he (ﷺ) raised his hands and said: O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah, we could not see even a small patch of cloud in the sky, and between us in the mosque and Mount Sal‘—to the west of the mosque, from where clouds usually come—no house or building was obstructing our view. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Then a cloud rose from behind it, round like a shield—a small disc—and when it reached the middle of the sky over Madīnah, it spread out and then began to rain. By Allah, we did not see the sun because of the rain until the following Friday, when that man entered through the same gate while the Prophet (ﷺ) was standing and delivering the sermon. The man faced him and said: O Messenger of Allah, the properties have perished, and the routes have been cut off, so pray to Allah to withhold the rain from us. He said: So the Prophet (ﷺ) raised his hands and said: O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us. O Allah, on the highlands, the small mountains, the valleys, and the places where trees grow. Anas said: The rain cloud dispersed, and we went out walking in the sunlight.
Lessons
Taking the means to seek provision—such as supplication and traveling through the land—does not contradict reliance on Allah Almighty.
It is recommended to say this Prophetic supplication when seeking rain.
It is permissible to pray for clear weather—asking for the rain to stop—when the rain causes harm. The Prophet (ﷺ) specified that the rain remain on the hills, small mountains, and valleys because these areas are more suitable for farming and grazing.
It is permissible to ask for supplication from those who are thought to be righteous and pious among the living who are present—this is a permissible form of Tawassul (seeking means to Allah). However, Tawassul through the status or rank of any created being, whether living or dead, is not permissible, as it is one of the means leading to Shirk.
The legitimacy of showing persistence in supplication and repeating it.
It is permissible to speak to the preacher on Friday during the sermon when needed.
The magnificent power of Allah is manifested in His sending down and withholding of rain.
The wisdom of the Prophet (ﷺ) is shown in his supplication for the rain to be withheld only from where it caused harm, and not from where it was beneficial.
The legitimacy of performing Istisqā’ (supplication for rain) during the sermon.
Raising the hands during supplication—because it expresses humility and need, and symbolizes the expectation of receiving; and the scholars have unanimously agreed on raising them in this situation.
A sign from among the signs of the Prophet (ﷺ) proving his prophethood, as his supplication was answered immediately—both in bringing the rain and in causing it to cease.
Explanation in Arabic
دخل أعرابيٌّ مسجد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم جمعة من بابٍ غربي المسجد تجاه بيت عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه، والنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قائم يخطب، فاستقبل الرجل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال: يا رسول الله، هلكت المواشي، وتقطعت السبل بموت البهائم التي تنقل الناس أو ضعفها من الجوع، فادع الله أن يسقينا المطر.
فرفع صلى الله عليه وسلم يديه، ثم قال: اللهم اسقنا، اللهم اسقنا، اللهم اسقنا.
قال أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه: والله ما نرى في السماء ولا قطعة من غيم، وما بيننا في المسجد وبين جبل سلع غربي المسجد حيث يأتي من جهته السحاب من بيت ولا دار يحجبهم عن رؤيته.
قال أنس رضي الله عنه: فطلعت من ورائه سحابة مستديرة مثل التُّرْس وهو الصَفِيْحة الصغيرة، فلما توسطت سماء المدينة انتشرت، ثم أمطرت، فوالله، ما رأينا الشمس من المطر حتى الجمعة الأخرى، حيث دخل ذلك الرجل من ذلك الباب، وهو صلى الله عليه وسلم قائم يخطب، فاستقبله قائمًا، فقال: يا رسول الله، هلكت الأموال، وانقطعت السبل، فادع الله يمسك المطر عنا.
قال: فرفع صلى الله عليه وسلم يديه، ثم قال: اللهم اصرف المطر حوالينا ولا علينا، اللهم على ما ارتفع من الأرض كالتَّلِّ، والجبل الصغير، وبطون الأودية، ومنابت الشجر.
قال أنس: فانقطعت السحابة الماطرة، وخرجنا نمشي في الشمس.
فعل الأسباب لطلب الرزق، من الدعاء، والضرب في الأرض، لا ينافي التوكل على الله تعالى.
استحباب الدعاء بهذا الدعاء النبوي لطلب الغيث.
جواز الاستصحاء -طلب الصحو وتوقّف المطر- عند الضرر بالمطر، وخص بقاء المطر على الآكام والظراب وبطون الأودية؛ لأنها أوفق للزراعة والرعي.
جواز طلب الدعاء ممَّن يظن فيهم الصلاح والتقى من الأحياء الحاضرين، وهذا التوسل الجائز، أما التوسل بجاه أحد من المخلوقين، حيًّا أو ميتًا، فهذا لا يجوز؛ لأنه من وسائل الشرك.
مشروعية الإلحاح في الدعاء وتكراره.
جواز تكليم الخطيب يوم الجمعة للحاجة.
ظهور قدرة الله الباهرة في إنزال المطر وإمساكه.
حكمة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بالدعاء بإمساك المطر عما فيه ضرر دون ما لا ضرر فيه.
مشروعية الاستسقاء في الخطبة.
رفع اليدين في الدعاء؛ لأن فيه معنى الافتقار، وتحرِّي معنى الإعطاء فيهما، وقد أجمع العلماء على رفعهما في هذا الموقف.
آية من آيات النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، الدالة على نبوته، فقد استجيب دعاؤه في الحال، في جلب المطر وفي رفعه.
Scholars’ grades
Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Grades of other versions (5)
AuthenticAl-Albaniحسن صحيح — صحيح النسائي (1517)
Ibn Kathirلبعضه شواهد — البداية والنهاية (6/94)
AuthenticIbn Khuzaymahأخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن خزيمة (3/ 266)
AuthenticIbn Uthaymeenصحيح — الضياء اللامع (339)
Good chain (hasan)محمد ابن يوسف الصالحيإسناده حسن. — سبل الهدى والرشاد (9/442)
Other versions
AuthenticMuttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim)Sahih al-Bukhari 933
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ - رضى الله عنه - { أَنَّ رَجُلًا دَخَلَ اَلْمَسْجِدَ يَوْمَ اَلْجُمُعَةِ, وَالنَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَائِمٌ يَخْطُبُ. فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ, هَلَكَتِ اَلْأَمْوَالُ, وَانْقَطَعَتِ…
Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik
AuthenticMuttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim)Mishkat al-Masabih 5902
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ - رضى الله عنه - { أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -اسْتَسْقَى فَأَشَارَ بِظَهْرِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى اَلسَّمَاءِ } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ 1 . 1 - صحيح. رواه مسلم (896).
‘Abdullāh ibn Zayd ibn ‘Āsim al-Māzini (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out to invoke Allah for rain. He faced the direction of Qiblah as he invoked Allah, and turned his upper garment inside out. Then he prayed two…
خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَسْقِي فَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ يَدْعُو، وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَهَرَ فِيهِمَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ.
