MERCY OR TORMENT ??
:salamext:
Allah Ta'ala says,
'And He is the One who sends the winds ahead of His Mercy, i.e. Rain.'
(Al-Furqaan 48)
In another verse, Allah Ta'ala says,
'When they (the nation of Aad) saw a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, 'This cloud will give us rain,' Nay! It is the calamity you were asking to be hastened. A wind wherein is a grievous punishment.'
(al-Ahqaaf 24)
Allah Ta'ala has complete control over everything. Within the blink of an eye He can change good conditions into adversity and adversity into good. He can create benefit for a certain people and yet harm others with the very same matter.
Rain, for example, is one of those such components as is witnessed by all and could be understood by the above Aayat of the noble Qur'aan. During the era of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), a companion once requested Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) during the Friday sermon to make Du'aa for rain. The following Friday, the very same companion asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to ask Allah to stop the rain as it had rained continuously the entire week and thus it was causing difficulty. (Sahih Bukhari)
Due to this multiple effect of rain, it was the practice of our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) that whenever the winds would blow – which is a natural forecast of rain – his colour would change and he would become worried. Upon enquiry, he would say,
'I fear that it could be a punishment for my Ummat'
He would also recite the following Du'aa:
Trans: 'O Allah, I beseech thee for the good of it, the good in it and the good that comes with it and I seek refuge in you from its evil, the evil that is in it and the evil that comes with it.'
(Sahih Muslim Hadith2082)
Thereafter, if it rained calmly, he would become relieved to such an extent that he would even go into the rain, open his chest or any part of his body and let the rain fall on his body so as to take blessing from it. Upon enquiry, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,
'Verily, it has just recently came from my Lord.'
(Sahih Muslim Hadith2080)
The following Du'aas were also recited by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) whilst it was rained,
Trans: 'O Allah, (make the rain) a beneficial down pour.'
(Sahih Bukhari Hadith1032)
During a severe, downpour, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would recite
Trans: 'O Allah, (let it rain) around us and not upon us.'
(Sahih Bukhari Hadith1013; Sahih Muslim Hadith2076)
And if it thundered, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would recite,
Trans: 'O Allah, do not kill us through your anger and do not destroy us through your punishment and save us before your punishment.'
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi Hadith3450; Musnad Ahmad Hadith5763; al-Adabul Mufrad Hadith742) - (This Hadith has been classified as Sahih (authentic) by Imaams Haakim, Dhahabiy; Mustadrak vol.2 pg.286 as well as Hafiz ibn Hajar and Allamah Jazari; Futuhaat al-Rabbaaniyyah vol.4 pg.284)
After it rains, one should recite
Trans: It has rained through the grace and mercy of Allah.'
(Sahih Bukhari Hadith846, 1048 and Sahih Muslim Hadith71)
Note: Du'aas are accepted at the time of rain:
Sunan Abu Dawud Hadith2533; Mustadrak Haakim vol.2 pg.114 – Hadith2535; this Hadith has been classified as Sahih (authentic) by Imaams Haakim, Dhahabiy – ibid and al-Shawkaani; Tuhfat al-Dhaakireen pg.69; also refer to al-Adhkaar of Imaam Nawawiy)
Islamic Library and Research Centre, Camperdown
:wasalamex