3/1. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1163 — Cloak Reversal in Istisqa
Collection Of Chapters Regarding Salat Al-Istisqa'
Rain Dua Hadith: Turning the Cloak Before Supplication
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1163
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1163
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ - يَعْنِي الْحِمْصِيَّ - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ وَحَوَّلَ رِدَاءَهُ فَجَعَلَ عِطَافَهُ الأَيْمَنَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ الأَيْسَرِ وَجَعَلَ عِطَافَهُ الأَيْسَرَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ الأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ .
The above-mentioned tradition has also been transmitted by Muhammad b. Muslim through a different chain of narrators. But there is no mention of prayer in this version. The version adds: "He turned around his cloak, putting its right side on his left shoulder and its left side on his right shoulder. Thereafter he made supplication to Allah."
[1] That is Az-Zuhrī, who is also called Ibn Shihāb.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1163In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 3English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1159
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1163
This hadith about rain dua is a shorter version of the earlier report. It does not mention the prayer in this version, so the focus stays on the cloak and the supplication. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم turned his cloak by placing the right side on his left shoulder and the left side on his right shoulder. After that, he made supplication to Allah, the Exalted. For people searching for turning cloak in istisqa, this narration gives a specific detail about how the cloak was changed. It reminds us to read each report carefully: some narrations mention the prayer, while this one highlights the cloak reversal and dua.
What we learn from this hadith
- This version does not mention the prayer, so its main detail is the cloak reversal.
- The right side of the cloak was placed on the left shoulder.
- The left side of the cloak was placed on the right shoulder.
- The supplication to Allah came after the cloak was turned.
