5/153. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1266 — Prayer for Rain with Humility
What was narrated concerning the Prayer for rain
Prayer for Rain: Humility and Two Rak'ah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1266
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1266
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كِنَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي أَمِيرٌ مِنَ الأُمَرَاءِ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ، فِي الاِسْتِسْقَاءِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ مَا مَنَعَهُ أَنْ يَسْأَلَنِي، قَالَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مُتَوَاضِعًا مُتَبَذِّلاً مُتَخَشِّعًا مُتَرَسِّلاً مُتَضَرِّعًا فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَمَا يُصَلِّي فِي الْعِيدِ وَلَمْ يَخْطُبْ خُطْبَتَكُمْ هَذِهِ .
Hisham bin Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Kinanah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Hisham bin Ishaq bin ‘Abdullah bin Kinanah that his father said: “One of the chiefs* sent me to Ibn ‘Abbas to ask him about the prayer for rain. Ibn ‘Abbas said: ‘What kept him from asking me?’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out humbly, walking with a humble and moderate gait, imploring, and he performed two Rak’ah as he used to pray for ‘Eid, but he did not give a sermon like this sermon of yours.’”
[1] In the narration of At-Tirmidhi (no. 558), it was Walid bin 'Uqbah.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1266In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 464English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1266
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1266
This Hadith explains the prayer for rain through the report of Ibn 'Abbas. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went out in a humble state, with a humble and moderate walk, showing need before Allah. He performed two Rak'ah as he used to pray for Eid. The narration also says that he did not give a sermon like the sermon being referred to in the question. The core teaching is that Salat al-Istisqa is not only an outward prayer for rain; it is done with humility, calmness, and pleading to Allah. For anyone searching for prayer for rain hadith, this narration gives a simple picture of the Prophet's manner.
What we learn from this hadith
- The prayer for rain is connected with humility before Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed two Rak'ah for rain.
- The prayer was compared to the Eid prayer in this narration.
- Asking Allah for rain should be done with need and humbleness.
