3/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1171 — Spreading Hands During Rain Prayer
Raising The Hands During Istisqa'
Dua for Rain Hadith: Spreading the Hands Toward the Earth
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1171
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1171
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَسْتَسْقِي هَكَذَا يَعْنِي وَمَدَّ يَدَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ بُطُونَهُمَا مِمَّا يَلِي الأَرْضَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ بَيَاضَ إِبْطَيْهِ .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to make supplication for rain in this manner. he spread his hands keeping the inner side (of hands) towards the earth, so I witnessed the whiteness of his armpits.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1171In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 11English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1167
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1171
This dua for rain hadith adds another description from Anas. He said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to make supplication for rain in this manner: he spread his hands and kept the inner side of the hands toward the earth, until Anas saw the whiteness of his armpits. The report is very specific about the hand position during istisqa. It is not a general lesson about every dua; it is about this manner of asking Allah for rain. For readers looking for how the Prophet made dua for rain, this narration highlights the physical form of the supplication: hands spread, palms directed downward, and raised with need.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spread his hands while making rain supplication.
- The inner sides of the hands were toward the earth.
- Anas saw the whiteness of his armpits during the raising.
- The report describes the manner of istisqa dua.
