Messenger of Allah, the camels died and the passages were blocked; so supplicate Allah to send down rain upon us. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and then said: (O Allah, send down rain upon us; O Allah, send dowp rain upon us; O Allah, send down rain upon us. Anas said: By Allah, we did not see any cloud or any patch of it, and there was neither any house or building standing between us and the (hillock) Sal'a. There appeared a cloud in the shape of a shield from behind it, and as it (came high) in the sky it spread and then there was a downpour of rain. By Allah, we did not see the sun throughout the week. Then (that very man) came on the coming Friday through the same door when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing and delivering the sermon. He stood in front of him and said: Messenger of Allah, our animals died and the passages blocked. Supplicate Allah to stop the rain for us. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) again raised his hands and said: O Allah, let it (rain) fall in our suburbs and not on us, O Allah (send it down) on the hillocks and small mountains and the river-beds and at places where trees grow. The rain stopped, and as we stepped out we were walking in sun- shine. He (the narrator) said to Sharik: I asked Anas b. Malik if he was the same man. He said: I do not know.
The Book of Prayer - Rain
Sahih Muslim 897a - Commentary by Imam An-Nawawi
Context and Significance
This narration demonstrates the profound power of sincere supplication and the special status of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as Allah's beloved servant. The people's immediate turning to the Prophet during crisis reflects their recognition of his unique spiritual station.
The sequence of events - from severe drought to excessive rainfall - illustrates how divine response to du'a can manifest in ways beyond human expectation, teaching us about both Allah's generosity and the need for balanced prayers.
Raising Hands in Supplication
The Prophet's act of raising his hands demonstrates the proper etiquette (adab) of making du'a. Scholars note that raising palms upward signifies humility, neediness, and expectation of divine acceptance. This physical posture reflects the spiritual state of complete dependence upon Allah.
Repetition and Persistence
The Prophet repeated his request for rain three times, teaching us the importance of persistence in supplication without becoming weary. This repetition isn't for Allah's benefit but to strengthen the supplicant's conviction and demonstrate earnestness.
Immediate Response Without Natural Causes
Anas's emphatic testimony "By Allah, we did not see any cloud" highlights the miraculous nature of the response. The cloud appearing from behind Sal'a mountain without any meteorological precursors serves as a clear sign (ayah) of divine intervention in response to prophetic supplication.
Wisdom in the Second Supplication
When asked to stop the rain, the Prophet didn't pray for complete cessation but for its redirection to beneficial areas - suburbs, hillocks, river-beds, and places of vegetation. This demonstrates profound wisdom: seeking what brings overall benefit rather than mere personal convenience, and recognizing that rain is ultimately a blessing that should be properly distributed.
Spiritual Lessons
This incident teaches the importance of turning to Allah in all circumstances, the etiquette of supplication, trust in divine response, and the need for balance in our requests. It also illustrates the Prophet's role as an intercessor for his community while maintaining complete dependence upon Allah alone.