A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Livestock are destroyed and the roads are cut off. So please invoke Allah." So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed and it rained from that Friday to the next Friday. Then he came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) I and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Houses have collapsed, roads are cut off and the livestock are destroyed." So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) prayed, "O Allah! (Let it rain) on the tops of mountains, on the plateaus, in the valleys and over the places where trees grow." So the clouds cleared away from Medina as clothes are taken off.
The Context of Istisqā'
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1017 demonstrates the proper Islamic procedure for seeking rain (istisqā') during times of drought. The Companions approached the Prophet ﷺ with their legitimate worldly concerns - livestock perishing and travel routes becoming impassable - showing that material needs are valid reasons to seek divine intervention.
The First Supplication & Its Response
The Prophet's ﷺ initial prayer was answered with continuous rain for an entire week, demonstrating Allah's immediate response to the supplication of His Messenger. This abundant rain reflects divine mercy and the effectiveness of seeking help through proper channels.
Scholars note that such immediate response to the Prophet's ﷺ prayer serves as a manifest miracle (mu'jizah) confirming his prophethood and the truth of his message.
The Wisdom in Excessive Rain
When the rain became excessive and caused damage, the Companion returned not with complaint but with factual reporting of the new situation. This teaches Muslims to maintain respectful communication with their leaders and scholars even when circumstances change.
The sequence shows Allah's wisdom in testing the community with opposite conditions - first drought, then flood - to strengthen their faith and dependence upon Him.
The Specific Second Supplication
The Prophet's ﷺ second prayer demonstrates profound wisdom: "O Allah! On the tops of mountains, on the plateaus, in the valleys and over the places where trees grow." This specific supplication directs rain to areas where it benefits without causing harm to inhabited areas.
Classical commentators explain that this teaches Muslims to be precise in their requests to Allah, seeking beneficial outcomes while avoiding potential harms. The immediate clearing of clouds from Medina shows divine precision in answering prayers.
Legal Rulings Derived
This hadith establishes the legitimacy of the istisqā' prayer as a communal Sunnah during drought. It shows that the Imam or righteous scholar should lead this prayer.
The narration also demonstrates that if answered prayer brings difficulty, one may pray for its modification without ingratitude, maintaining balance in worship and worldly affairs.