The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
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 .
"The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) came down and prayed, and the people departed, and it continued to rain until the following Friday. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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."
Narrated by It was narrated from Thabit that Anas said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was delivering a Friday sermon when the people urgently requested him to pray for rain due to a drought. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded with sincere supplication, and despite the clear skies, rain soon fell, demonstrating the power of prayer and the importance of turning to Allah in times of need. The subsequent request to stop the rain further illustrates the balance between seeking help and recognizing the consequences of nature.
Modern Application
In modern life, this hadith reminds us of the importance of making dua during difficult times. Whether facing personal challenges or community crises, turning to Allah in prayer can provide comfort and support, reinforcing faith in divine assistance.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it emphasizes the significance of supplication in seeking help from Allah (SWT) during times of need.
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.
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
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."
This hadith is #1522 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Praying for Rain (Al-Istisqa'). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Thabit that Anas said:.