17/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1526 — Warning Against Star Attribution
It is Makruh to attribute rain to the stars
Rain Attribution Hadith: Do Not Deny Allah’s Favor
Sunan an-Nasai : 1526
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1526
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْجَبَّارِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَتَّابِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ أَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمَطَرَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ خَمْسَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهُ لأَصْبَحَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَافِرِينَ يَقُولُونَ سُقِينَا بِنَوْءِ الْمِجْدَحِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If Allah (SWT) were to withhold rain from His slaves for five years and then send it, some of the people would become disbelievers, saying: "We have been given rain by the star of Al-Mijdah."
[1] Al-Mijdah : A name used to refer to a star or stars which were considered related to rain according to the beliefs of the pre-Islamic Arabs. Some of them say it was Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri); a red giant star, one of the brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere. See An-Nihâyah .Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1526In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 23English translation : Vol. 2, Book 17, Hadith 1527
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1526
This hadith about rain attribution gives a strong warning. Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if Allah withheld rain from His slaves for five years and then sent it, some people would still become disbelievers by saying they were given rain by the star of Al-Mijdah. The hadith shows how serious it is to receive a blessing and then credit it wrongly. The text does not focus on weather signs or natural causes. It focuses on belief, speech, and gratitude. A person may pass through a long need for rain, but when relief comes, the heart should turn to Allah. The rain is His gift, and the believer should not deny that favor.
What we learn from this hadith
- Long hardship should not make people forget Allah when relief comes.
- Rain must be recognized as Allah’s blessing.
- The hadith warns against crediting rain to a star.
- Speech after receiving a blessing should show faith and gratitude.
