Invoking Allah for Rain (Istisqaa)

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، وَابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ إِلاَّ فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ، وَإِنَّهُ يَرْفَعُ حَتَّى يُرَى بَيَاضُ إِبْطَيْهِ‏.‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik:The Prophet (ﷺ) never raised his hands for any invocation except for that of Istisqa' and he used to raise them so much that the whiteness of his armpits became visible. (Note: It may be that Anas did not see the Prophet (ﷺ) raising his hands, but it is narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands for invocations other than Istisqa. See Hadith No. 807 & 808 and also see Hadith No. 612, Vol

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ ـ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا رَأَى الْمَطَرَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا ‏"‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ‏.‏ وَرَوَاهُ الأَوْزَاعِيُّ وَعُقَيْلٌ عَنْ نَافِعٍ‏.‏

Narrated Aisha:Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw the rain, he used to say, "O Allah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ أَصَابَتِ النَّاسَ سَنَةٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ قَامَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، هَلَكَ الْمَالُ وَجَاعَ الْعِيَالُ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَنَا أَنْ يَسْقِيَنَا‏.‏ قَالَ فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ، وَمَا فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةٌ، قَالَ فَثَارَ سَحَابٌ أَمْثَالُ الْجِبَالِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَنْ مِنْبَرِهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الْمَطَرَ يَتَحَادَرُ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ، قَالَ فَمُطِرْنَا يَوْمَنَا ذَلِكَ، وَفِي الْغَدِ وَمِنْ بَعْدِ الْغَدِ وَالَّذِي يَلِيهِ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى، فَقَامَ ذَلِكَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ أَوْ رَجُلٌ غَيْرُهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، تَهَدَّمَ الْبِنَاءُ وَغَرِقَ الْمَالُ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَنَا‏.‏ فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَمَا جَعَلَ يُشِيرُ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ تَفَرَّجَتْ حَتَّى صَارَتِ الْمَدِينَةُ فِي مِثْلِ الْجَوْبَةِ، حَتَّى سَالَ الْوَادِي ـ وَادِي قَنَاةَ ـ شَهْرًا‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَمْ يَجِئْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلاَّ حَدَّثَ بِالْجَوْدِ‏.‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik:In the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the people were afflicted with a (famine) year. While the Prophet was delivering the Khutba (sermon) on the pulpit on a Friday, a Bedouin stood up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The livestock are dying and the families (offspring) are hungry: please pray to Allah to bless us with rain." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised both his hands towards the sky and at that time there was not a trace of cloud in the sky. Then the clouds started gathering like mountains. Before he got down from the pulpit I saw rainwater trickling down his beard. It rained that day, the next day, the third day, the fourth day and till the next Friday, when the same Bedouin or some other person stood up (during the Friday Khutba) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The houses have collapsed and the livestock are drowned. Please invoke Allah for us." So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised both his hands and said, "O Allah! Around us and not on us." Whichever side the Prophet (ﷺ) directed his hand, the clouds dispersed from there till a hole (in the clouds) was formed over Medina. The valley of Qanat remained flowing (with water) for one month and none, came from outside who didn't talk about the abundant rain

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدٌ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسًا، يَقُولُ كَانَتِ الرِّيحُ الشَّدِيدَةُ إِذَا هَبَّتْ عُرِفَ ذَلِكَ فِي وَجْهِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

Narrated Anas:Whenever a strong wind blew, anxiety appeared on the face of the Prophet (fearing that wind might be a sign of Allah's wrath)

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ نُصِرْتُ بِالصَّبَا، وَأُهْلِكَتْ عَادٌ بِالدَّبُورِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I was granted victory with As-Saba and the nation of 'Ad was destroyed by Ad- Dabur (westerly wind)

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُقْبَضَ الْعِلْمُ، وَتَكْثُرَ الزَّلاَزِلُ، وَيَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ، وَتَظْهَرَ الْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْهَرْجُ ـ وَهْوَ الْقَتْلُ الْقَتْلُ ـ حَتَّى يَكْثُرَ فِيكُمُ الْمَالُ فَيَفِيضُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you." (See Hadith No. 85 Vol)

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَامِنَا وَفِي يَمَنِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ قَالُوا وَفِي نَجْدِنَا قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَامِنَا وَفِي يَمَنِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ قَالُوا وَفِي نَجْدِنَا قَالَ قَالَ هُنَاكَ الزَّلاَزِلُ وَالْفِتَنُ، وَبِهَا يَطْلُعُ قَرْنُ الشَّيْطَانِ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar:(The Prophet) said, "O Allah! Bless our Sham and our Yemen." People said, "Our Najd as well." The Prophet again said, "O Allah! Bless our Sham and Yemen." They said again, "Our Najd as well." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There will appear earthquakes and afflictions, and from there will come out the side of the head of Satan

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ صَلَّى لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةِ عَلَى إِثْرِ سَمَاءٍ كَانَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَصْبَحَ مِنْ عِبَادِي مُؤْمِنٌ بِي وَكَافِرٌ، فَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ‏.‏ فَذَلِكَ مُؤْمِنٌ بِي كَافِرٌ بِالْكَوْكَبِ، وَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا‏.‏ فَذَلِكَ كَافِرٌ بِي مُؤْمِنٌ بِالْكَوْكَبِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) led the morning prayer in Al-Hudaibiya and it had rained the previous night. When the Prophet (ﷺ) had finished the prayer he faced the people and said, "Do you know what your Lord has said?" They replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." (The Prophet (ﷺ) said), "Allah says, 'In this morning some of My worshipers remained as true believers and some became non-believers; he who said that it had rained with the blessing and mercy of Allah is the one who believes in Me and does not believe in star, but he who said it had rained because of such and such (star) is a disbeliever in Me and is a believer in star

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مِفْتَاحُ الْغَيْبِ خَمْسٌ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ اللَّهُ لاَ يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ مَا يَكُونُ فِي غَدٍ، وَلاَ يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ مَا يَكُونُ فِي الأَرْحَامِ، وَلاَ تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا، وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ، وَمَا يَدْرِي أَحَدٌ مَتَى يَجِيءُ الْمَطَرُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Keys of the unseen knowledge are five which nobody knows but Allah . . . nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain