Nature

When it Rains

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَّافِعًا

Allāhumma ṣayyiban nāfiʿā.

O Allah, make it a beneficial rain.

ʿĀisha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrates: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw rain, he used to say [the above]. (Bukhārī 1032)

After it Rains

مُطِرنَا بِفَضلِ اللهِ وَرَحمَتِهِ

Mutirnā bi-fadhli-llāhi wa raḥmatih.

We have been given rain thanks to the Grace and Mercy of Allah.

Zayd b. Khālid Al-Juhanī (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in the Fajr prayer at Hudaiybiyyah after a rainy night. On completion of the prayer, he faced the people and said, “Do you know what your Lord has said (revealed)?” The people replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He ﷺ said, “Allah has said, ‘In this morning some of my slaves remained as true believers and some became non-believers; whoever said [the above] had belief in Me and he disbelieves in the stars, and whoever said that it rained because of a particular star had no belief in Me but believes in that star.’” (Bukhārī 846, Muslim 71)

When Seeking Rain #1

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِنَا غَيْثًا مُغِيْثًا مَرِيْئًا ، مَرِيْعًا نَافِعًا ، غَيْرَ ضَارٍّ ، عَاجِلًا غَيْرَ آجِلٍ

Allāhumma-sqinā ghaythan mughīthan, marīʿan nāfiʿan, ghayra dharrin, ʿajilan ghayra ājil.

O Allah, grant us rain that is a relief, wholesome, fertile and fruitful, beneficial and not harmful, coming sooner rather than later.

Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “Some women came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ weeping because of the lack of rain, and he said [the above] and then the sky covered them [with rain-clouds]. (Abū Dāwūd 1169)

When Seeking Rain #2

اللَّهُمَّ اسْقِ عِبَادَكَ وَبَهَائِمَكَ ، وَانْشُرْ رَحْمَتَكَ ، وَأَحْيِ بَلَدَكَ الْمَيِّتَ

Allāhumma-sqi ʿibādika wa bahā’imika wa-nshur raḥmataka wa aḥyi baladaka-l-mayyit.

O Allah, give Your slaves and Your beasts water to drink, and spread out Your Mercy and revive Your dead land.

Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “Some women came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ weeping because of the lack of rain, and he said [the above] and then the sky covered them [with rain-clouds]. (Abū Dāwūd 1169)

When Seeking Rain #3

‏الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ، الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ ، مَلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيْدُ ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ ، أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا الْغَيْثَ وَاجْعَلْ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ لَنَا قُوَّةً وَبَلاَغًا إِلَى حِيْنٍ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ ، وَأَنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُوْلُهُ

Alḥamdu-lillāhi Rabbi-l-ʿālamīn, ar-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm, Māliki yawmi-d-dīn, lā ilāha illa-llāhu yafʿalu mā yurīdu, Allāhumma Anta-llāhu lā ilāha illa Anta-l-Ganiyyu wa naḥnu-l-fuqarā, anzil ʿalayna-l-ghaytha wa-jʿal ma anzalta lanā quwwatan wa balāgan ilā ḥīnin, ash-hadu anna-llāha ʿalā kulli shay’in Qadīr, wa annī ʿabdu-llāhi wa rasūluh.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the All-Merciful, the Compassionate, Owner of the Day of Judgment. There is no god but Allah; He does as He wishes. O Allah, You are Allah and there is no god but You, the Infinitely Rich, and we are poor. Send down the rain and make what You have sent down strength for us, and provision for a time. I bear witness that Allah is over all things All-Powerful, and I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger.

“Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “A man came into the mosque on Friday while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing and delivering the sermon, and said: ‘Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and our means of survival have been cut off. Pray to Allah to give us rain.’ So the Messenger of Allah raised his hands and said [the above]. “By Allah, we could not see any cloud in the sky – not even a tiny one. There was no house or home between us and Sala (a mountain near Madinah). There appeared a cloud behind him that was like a shield. When it was in the middle of the sky it spread out and it started to rain. By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week. Then the man entered the mosque the following Friday while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing and delivering the sermon. He said: ‘Messenger of Allah, out wealth has been destroyed and our means of survival have been cut off [because of the rains]. Pray to Allah to give us respite.” The Messenger of Allah raised his hands and said [the above]. The rain stopped and we went outside, and the sun was shining.” (Bukhārī 1013)

When Seeking Rain #4

اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ أَغِثْنَا

Allāhumma agithnā, Allāhumma agithnā, Allāhumma agithnā.

O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain.

ʿĀishā (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) related that the people complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the lack of rain. He instructed that a minbar be positioned in the place where salah was offered. He made an appointment for the people to come out. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out when the upper edge of the sun was appearing. He sat on the minbar, magnified and praised Allah, and then said: “You have complained about the barrenness of your homes, and the delay of the rain beyond its proper time. Allah has commanded you to supplicate to Him, and He has promised you that He will answer your prayers.”

Then he said [the above]. Then he lifted his hands and he continued to raise them until the whites of his armpits showed. After that he turned his back to the people and he turned his cloak whilst raising his hands. Then he turned towards the people and came and performed two rakʿahs. Allah made the clouds form and there were thunder and lightning, and it rained, by the permission of Allah. He had hardly finished his rakʿah before there was a flood.

When he saw them hastening to find shelter, he smiled until his molars showed. Then he said: “I bear witness that Allah has power over all things, and that I am the servant and Messenger of Allah.” (Abū Dāwūd 1176)

When it Rains Heavily

اَللّٰهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا ، اَللّٰهُمَّ عَلَى الآكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ ، وَبُطُونِ الْأَوْدِيَةِ ، وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ

Allāhumma ḥawālaynā wa lā ʿalaynā, Allāhumma ʿala-l-ākāmi wa-ẓ-ẓirāb, wa buṭūni-l-awdiyah, wa manābiti-sh-shajar.

O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us. O Allah, [let it fall] on the pastures, hills, valleys and the roots of trees.

Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “A person entered the Mosque on a Friday through the gate facing the Daril- Qada’ and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing delivering the Khutba (sermon). The man stood in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; please ask Allah for rain.’ So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised both his hands and said, ‘O Allah! Bless us with rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain!”

Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) added, “By Allah, there were no clouds in the sky and there was no house or building between us and the mountain of Salʿa. Then a big cloud like a shield appeared from behind it (i.e. Salʿa Mountain) and when it came in the middle of the sky, it spread and then rained. By Allah! We could not see the sun for a week.

The next Friday, a person entered through the same gate and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was delivering the Friday Khutba and the man stood in front of him and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; Please pray to Allah to withhold rain.’ “Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) added, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised both his hands and said, ‘O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us. O Allah, [let it fall] on the pastures, hills, valleys and the roots of trees.” Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) added, “The rain stopped and we came out, walking in the sun.”

Sharīk asked Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) whether it was the same person who had asked for rain the previous Friday. Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) replied that he did not know. (Bukhārī 1014)

Upon Hearing Thunder

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ يُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيْفَتِهِ

Subḥāna-lladhī yusabbiḥur-raʿdu bi-ḥamdihī wa-l-malā’ikatu min khīfatih.

How Perfect is the One Whom the thunder exalts with praise of Him, as do the angels in awe of Him.

It is reported that when Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) would hear thunder, he would say [the above]. He would then say: “This is a severe warning for the people on earth.” (ِAl-Adab al-Mufrad 723, Muwatta’ 3641)

When the Wind Blows #1

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيْهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيْهَا وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ

Allāhumma innī as’aluka khayrahā wa khayra mā fīhā wa khayra mā ursilat bih, wa aʿūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri mā fīhā wa sharri mā ursilat bihi.

O Allah, indeed I ask You for its good, the good of what is in it, and the good of that it was sent with. And I seek Your protection from its evil, the evil of what is in it, and the evil that it was sent with.

ʿĀishā (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) reported: “Whenever the wind was stormy, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say [the above] and when there was a thunder and lightning in the sky, his colour changed, and he went out and in, backwards and forwards; and when the rain came, he felt relieved, and I noticed that (the sign of relief) on his face.

ʿĀishā (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) asked him (about it) and he said: It (thunder and lightning) may be as the people of ʿAd said: When they saw a cloud coming to their valley they said:” It is a cloud which would give us rain” (46:24). (Muslim 899)

When the Wind Blows #2

اَللَّهُمَّ لَقَحًا لَا عَقِيْمًا

Allāhumma laqaḥan lā aqīman.

O Allāh, let it be fertilising, not sterile.

Salamah b. Aqwaʿ (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that when the wind would blow severely, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above]. (Ibn Hibbān 1008)

Upon Seeing the New Moon

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَالْإِيْمَانِ ، وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَالْإِسْلاَمِ ، رَبِّيْ وَرَبُّكَ اللّٰهُ

Allāhumma ahillahu ʿalaynā bi-l-yumni wa-l-īmān, wa-s-salāmati wa-l-Islām, Rabbi wa Rabbuka-llāh.

O Allah, make it rise over us with good fortune, faith, peace, and submission. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.

Ṭalḥa b. ʿUbaydullāh (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw the new moon, he said [the above]. (Tirmidhī 3451)

Upon Seeing the Early or Premature Fruit

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَـنَا فِي ثَمَرِنَا ، وبَارِكْ لَـنَا فِي مَدِيْنَتِنَا ، وبَارِكْ لَـنَا فِي صَاعِنَا ، وبَارِكْ لَنـَا فِي مُدِّنَا

Allāhumma bārik lanā fī thamarinā, wa bārik lanā fī madīnatinā, wa bārik lanā fī sāʿinā, wa bārik lanā fī muddinā.

O Allah, bless us in our fruit, bless us in our city, bless us in our sāʿ and bless us in our mudd.

Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when people saw the first fruit of the year, they brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ received it, he said [the above]. Then he called the smallest of the children and gave him that fruit. (Muslim 1373)

When Dogs Bark

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ

Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm.

I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Shayṭān.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you hear the barking of dogs and the braying of donkeys at night, seek Allah’s protection from them, for they see what you do not see.” (Abū Dāwūd 5103)

When Hearing the Braying of a Donkey

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ

Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm.

I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Shayṭān.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you hear the barking of dogs and the braying of donkeys at night, seek Allah’s protection from them, for they see what you do not see.” (Abū Dāwūd 5103)