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)
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
- Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 1013 (unverified) 97% confidence
- Candidate: Sahih Muslim 897a (unverified) 94% confidence
Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.
Commentary and footnotes (6)
Chapter-heading commentary
(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
(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
(۱) قوله: يرسل: علق نزول الغيث بالاستغفار لا بالصلاة، فكان الأصل فيه الدعاء والتضرع دون الصلاة. قاله في عمدة القاري».
(۲) قوله: فصل إلخ : فهذه الأحاديث والآثار كلها تشهد لأبي حنيفة أن الاستسقاء استغفار ودعاء.
Note 3
(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.