The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ،. وَقَالَ لِي خَلِيفَةُ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَهْوَ يَخْطُبُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ قَحَطَ الْمَطَرُ فَاسْتَسْقِ رَبَّكَ، فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَمَا نَرَى مِنْ سَحَابٍ، فَاسْتَسْقَى فَنَشَأَ السَّحَابُ بَعْضُهُ إِلَى بَعْضٍ، ثُمَّ مُطِرُوا حَتَّى سَالَتْ مَثَاعِبُ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَمَا زَالَتْ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الْمُقْبِلَةِ مَا تُقْلِعُ، ثُمَّ قَامَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ أَوْ غَيْرُهُ وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ فَقَالَ غَرِقْنَا فَادْعُ رَبَّكَ يَحْبِسْهَا عَنَّا. فَضَحِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ
" اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا ". مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا. فَجَعَلَ السَّحَابُ يَتَصَدَّعُ عَنِ الْمَدِينَةِ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً، يُمْطَرُ مَا حَوَالَيْنَا، وَلاَ يُمْطِرُ مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ، يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ كَرَامَةَ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِجَابَةَ دَعْوَتِهِ.
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) on a Friday while he (the Prophet) was delivering a sermon at Medina, and
said, "There is lack of rain, so please invoke your Lord to bless us with the rain." The Prophet (ﷺ) looked
at the sky when no cloud could be detected. Then he invoked Allah for rain. Clouds started gathering
together and it rained till the Medina valleys started flowing with water. It continued raining till the
next Friday. Then that man (or some other man) stood up while the Prophet (ﷺ) was delivering the Friday
sermon, and said, "We are drowned; Please invoke your Lord to withhold it (rain) from us" The
Prophet smiled and said twice or thrice, "O Allah! Please let it rain round about us and not upon us."
The clouds started dispersing over Medina to the right and to the left, and it rained round about
Medina and not upon Medina. Allah showed them (the people) the miracle of His Prophet and His
response to his invocation.
Narrated by Narrated Anas:
Context
This hadith narrates an incident during a Friday sermon when a man approached the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to request rain due to a drought. The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for rain, and clouds gathered, leading to a downpour that continued for a week. The following Friday, the same man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to stop the rain as it had become excessive. The Prophet (ﷺ) humorously prayed for the rain to fall around Medina but not directly on it, demonstrating his unique relationship with Allah and his concern for the community's well-being.
Modern Application
In today's context, this hadith emphasizes the importance of making dua, especially in times of need. When faced with challenges, such as a lack of resources or support, individuals can turn to prayer as a means of seeking assistance and guidance from Allah, trusting in His wisdom and mercy.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it highlights the act of invoking Allah for help during times of need.
And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."
And [remember] when they said, "O Allah, if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment."
Do you not see that Allah drives clouds? Then He brings them together, then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightening almost takes away the eyesight.
It is Allah who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds and spread them in the sky however He wills, and He makes them fragments so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice
