17. The Book of Praying for Rain (Al-Istisqa')
كتاب الاستسقاء
كتاب الاستسقاء
Chapter 3: The recommended condition for the imam to be in if he goes out
باب الْحَالِ الَّتِي يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلإِمَامِ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا إِذَا خَرَجَ
It was narrated from Hisham bin Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Kinanah that : His father said: "So and so sent me to ask him how the Messenger of Allah (SAW) prayed for rain (Istisqa')." He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (SAW) went out beseeching and humble, (dressed) in a state of humility. He did not give a Khutbah like this Khutbah of yours, and he prayed two rak'ahs.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كِنَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي فُلاَنٌ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَقَالَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُتَضَرِّعًا مُتَوَاضِعًا مُتَبَذِّلاً فَلَمْ يَخْطُبْ نَحْوَ خُطْبَتِكُمْ هَذِهِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
It was narrated from Abdullah bin Zaid that: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) prayed for rain wearing a black khamisah.
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ غَزِيَّةَ، عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ تَمِيمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَسْقَى وَعَلَيْهِ خَمِيصَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ .
Chapter 5: The imam turning his back to the people when supplicating during prayers for rain
باب تَحْوِيلِ الإِمَامِ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عِنْدَ الدُّعَاءِ فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ
Chapter 6: The imam turning his rida' around when praying for rain
باب تَقْلِيبِ الإِمَامِ الرِّدَاءَ عِنْدَ الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ
Chapter 7: When should the imam turn his rida' around?
باب مَتَى يُحَوِّلُ الإِمَامُ رِدَاءَهُ
Chapter 8: The imam raising his hands
باب رَفْعِ الإِمَامِ يَدَهُ
Chapter 9: How to raise the hands
باب كَيْفَ يَرْفَعُ
It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) did not raise his hands during any supplication except when praying for rain, when he used to raise his hands so high that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen."
أَخْبَرَنِي شُعَيْبُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانِ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلاَّ فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُرَى بَيَاضُ إِبْطَيْهِ .
It was narrated from Abi Al-Lahm that: He saw the Messenger of Allah at Ahjar Az-Zait praying for rain and raising his hands, making supplications.
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عُمَيْرٍ، مَوْلَى آبِي اللَّحْمِ عَنْ آبِي اللَّحْمِ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ أَحْجَارِ الزَّيْتِ يَسْتَسْقِي وَهُوَ مُقْنِعٌ بِكَفَّيْهِ يَدْعُو .
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that he said: "While we were in the masjid on Friday and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was addressing the people, a man stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the routes have been cut off, our wealth has been destroyed and prices have gone up. Pray to Allah (SWT) to give us rain.' So the Messenger of Allah (SAW) raised his hands in level with his face and said: 'O Allah, give us rain.' By Allah (SWT), the Messenger of Allah (SAW) had not come down from the minbar before it started to pour with rain, and it rained from that day until the following Friday. Then a man stood up- I do not know if he was the same man who had asked the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to pray for rain for us or not- and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the routes have been cut off, and our wealth has been destroyed because there is too much water. Pray to Allah (SWT ) to stop the rain for us.' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'O Allah, around us and not on us, rather on the mountains and places where trees grow.' By Allah, hardly had the Messenger of Allah (SAW) spoken these words than the clouds split apart (and vanished) until we could not see anything of them.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، - وَهُوَ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ - عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي نَمِرٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَقَطَّعَتِ السُّبُلُ وَهَلَكَتِ الأَمْوَالُ وَأَجْدَبَ الْبِلاَدُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَسْقِيَنَا . فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ حِذَاءَ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا " . فَوَاللَّهِ مَا نَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ حَتَّى أُوسِعْنَا مَطَرًا وَأُمْطِرْنَا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ - لاَ أَدْرِي هُوَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَسْقِ لَنَا أَمْ لاَ - فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ انْقَطَعَتِ السُّبُلُ وَهَلَكَتِ الأَمْوَالُ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الْمَاءِ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُمْسِكَ عَنَّا الْمَاءَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا وَلَكِنْ عَلَى الْجِبَالِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ " . قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَكَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذَلِكَ تَمَزَّقَ السَّحَابُ حَتَّى مَا نَرَى مِنْهُ شَيْئًا .
Chapter 10: The supplication
باب ذِكْرِ الدُّعَاءِ
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that: The Prophet (SAW) said: "Allahumma sqina (O Allah, give us rain)."
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هِشَامٍ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي وُهَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا " .
It was narrated from Thabit that Anas said: "The Prophet (SAW) was delivering the Khutbah one Friday when the people stood up and shouted: 'O Prophet of Allah! There has been no rain and the animals have died. Pray to Allah (SWT) to send us rain.' He said: 'O Allah, send us rain; O Allah, send us rain.' By Allah (SWT), we could not see even a wisp of a cloud in the sky, then a cloud appeared and grew, and it rained. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came down and prayed, and the people departed, and it continued to rain until the following Friday. When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) stood up to deliver the Khutbah, they called out to him and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, the houses are destroyed and the routes are cut off. Pray to Allah to take it away from us.' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) smiled and said: 'O Allah, around us and not on us!' Then is dispersed from Al-Madinah and rain fell around Al-Madinah but not a single drop fell on Al-Madinah. I looked, and it was in something like a ring."
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، - وَهُوَ الْعُمَرِيُّ - عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ النَّاسُ فَصَاحُوا فَقَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قُحِطَتِ الْمَطَرُ وَهَلَكَتِ الْبَهَائِمُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَسْقِيَنَا . قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا " . قَالَ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةً مِنْ سَحَابٍ - قَالَ - فَأَنْشَأَتْ سَحَابَةٌ فَانْتَشَرَتْ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا أُمْطِرَتْ وَنَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَلَّى وَانْصَرَفَ النَّاسُ فَلَمْ تَزَلْ تَمْطُرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى فَلَمَّا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ صَاحُوا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ تَهَدَّمَتِ الْبُيُوتُ وَتَقَطَّعَتِ السُّبُلُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَحْبِسَهَا عَنَّا . فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا " . فَتَقَشَّعَتْ عَنِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَجَعَلَتْ تَمْطُرُ حَوْلَهَا وَمَا تَمْطُرُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَطْرَةً فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَفِي مِثْلِ الإِكْلِيلِ .
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that: A man entered the masjid when the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was standing and delivering the Khutbah. He turned to face the Messenger of Allah (SAW) standing and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and the routes have been cut off. Pray to Allah (SWT) to send us rain.' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) raised his hands then said: "O Allah, send us rain." Anas said: "By Allah, we had not seen even a wisp of a cloud in the sky and there were no houses or buildings between us and (the mountain of ) Sal'. Then a cloud like a shield appeared, and when it reached the middle of the sky it spread and it began to rain." Anas said: "By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week. Then a man entered through that door on the following Friday, when the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was standing and delivering the Khutbah. He turned to face him standing and said: 'O Messenger of Allah (SAW), may Allah (SWT) send blessings upon you. Our wealth has been destroyed and the routes have been cut off. Pray to Allah (SWT) to withold (the rain) from us.' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) raised his hands and said: 'O Allah, around us and not on us.; O Allah, on the hills and mountains, the bottoms of the valleys and where the trees grow.' Then it stopped raining and we went out walking in the sun." Sharik said: 'I asked Anas: 'Was he the same man?' He said: 'No.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمٌ يَخْطُبُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمًا وَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلَكَتِ الأَمْوَالُ وَانْقَطَعَتِ السُّبُلُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُغِيثَنَا . فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا " . قَالَ أَنَسٌ وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ مِنْ سَحَابَةٍ وَلاَ قَزَعَةٍ وَمَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ سَلْعٍ مِنْ بَيْتٍ وَلاَ دَارٍ فَطَلَعَتْ سَحَابَةٌ مِثْلُ التُّرْسِ فَلَمَّا تَوَسَّطَتِ السَّمَاءَ انْتَشَرَتْ وَأَمْطَرَتْ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْنَا الشَّمْسَ سَبْتًا . قَالَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابِ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ الْمُقْبِلَةِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمٌ يَخْطُبُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ قَائِمًا فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْكَ هَلَكَتِ الأَمْوَالُ وَانْقَطَعَتِ السُّبُلُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُمْسِكَهَا عَنَّا . فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى الآكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ وَبُطُونِ الأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ " . قَالَ فَأَقْلَعَتْ وَخَرَجْنَا نَمْشِي فِي الشَّمْسِ . قَالَ شَرِيكٌ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسًا أَهُوَ الرَّجُلُ الأَوَّلُ قَالَ لاَ .
Chapter 12: How many (rak'ahs) are there in the prayer for rain (Salat Al-Istisqa')?
باب كَمْ صَلاَةُ الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ
Chapter 14: Reciting Qur'an loudly for the prayer for rain
باب الْجَهْرِ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فِي صَلاَةِ الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ
Chapter 15: What to say when it rains
باب الْقَوْلِ عِنْدَ الْمَطَرِ
Chapter 16: It is Makruh to attribute rain to the stars
باب كَرَاهِيَةِ الاِسْتِمْطَارِ بِالْكَوْكَبِ
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: I have never sent down My favor to My slaves but a group of them became disbelievers who say; "The stars and by stars.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَى عِبَادِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ إِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ بِهَا كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ الْكَوْكَبُ وَبِالْكَوْكَبِ " .
It was narrated that Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani said: "It rained during the time of the Prophet (SAW) and he said: 'Have you nt heard what your Lord said this night? He said: I have never sent down any blessing upon My slaves but some of them become disbelievers thereby, saying: 'We have been given rain by such and such a star.' As for the one who believes in Me and praises Me for giving rain, that is the one who believes in Me and disbelieves in the stars. But the one who says: 'We have been given rain by such and such a star' he has disbelieved in Me and believed in the stars."
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، قَالَ مُطِرَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ قَالَ مَا أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَى عِبَادِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ إِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ بِهَا كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ مُطِرْنَا بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَمَّا مَنْ آمَنَ بِي وَحَمِدَنِي عَلَى سُقْيَاىَ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي آمَنَ بِي وَكَفَرَ بِالْكَوْكَبِ وَمَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَذَاكَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِي وَآمَنَ بِالْكَوْكَبِ " .
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'If Allah (SWT) were to withhold rain from His slaves for five years and then send it, some of the people would become disbelievers, saying: "We have been given rain by the star of Al-Mijdah."
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْجَبَّارِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَتَّابِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ أَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمَطَرَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ خَمْسَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهُ لأَصْبَحَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ سُقِينَا بِنَوْءِ الْمِجْدَحِ " .