Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – Wow, this story is really goosebump-inducing, folks! Just imagine, when the Prophet Muhammad was still a child, around eight years old, he could already perform such miracles. No joke!
So, here’s the story. Mecca was experiencing a severe drought. Rain? Forgotten! It had been months, the land was dry, and people were starving. It was truly dire!
This story is often told by many great scholars, one of whom is Ibn Asakir. He wrote in his book “Tarikh Madinah Dimashq” that there was no rain, and Mecca had become like a desert.
In the midst of this chaos, the prominent leaders of Mecca, known as the Quraysh elders, were scrambling to find a solution. They immediately thought of Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle. Why? Because Abu Talib was a great person, kind-hearted, and well-known. They believed that his prayers would be answered.
Okay, folks, the continuation of this story is truly awe-inspiring. Abu Talib took the young Prophet Muhammad to the Ka’bah. You know the Ka’bah, right? That sacred place in Mecca. There, Abu Talib took action. He placed the Prophet’s back against the Ka’bah’s wall and held his hands tightly.
At that moment, nature seemed to ‘rage’. The sky, which was usually clear, suddenly turned dark and cloudy. And what amazed everyone was that rain began to pour down heavily! The valley, which had been bone dry, was suddenly flooded with water. The plants that were on the brink of death came back to life, fresh and green.
No wonder all the people of Quraysh were astonished. They finally understood that Prophet Muhammad was extraordinary, even at a young age. He was like a real-life superhero!
Speaking of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it’s undeniable that he was special from childhood. This story proves it! A face so noble has an extraordinary impact. The Prophet could bring rain during a drought. Amazing!
Not only that, this story also teaches us an important lesson. We should always pray to Allah SWT, especially during times of calamity. The Prophet has shown us that prayers are powerful and can be a solution to problems.
Hey, did you know that this great story is also recorded in the book by Sheikh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, “Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum”? It’s super cool, right? On page 49, you can find equally exciting stories.
So, the story goes that after being cared for by his wet nurses, Halimah and Umm Salamah, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) returned to Mecca. But at that time, Mecca was in crisis, folks. A long drought had made everything dry, plants dead, and drinking water scarce.
Imagine, the people of Mecca were under great stress. Their lives were falling apart. Failed agriculture, many livestock dead. Eventually, they gathered to ask Abu Talib for a solution. You know, the kind-hearted and respected Abu Talib.
أخرج ابن عساكر عن جلهمة بن عرفطة قال: قدمت مكة وهم في قحط، فقالت قريش: يا أبا طالب! أقحط الوادي، وأجدب العيال، فهلم فاستسق، فخرج أبو طالب ومعه غلام، كأنه شمس دجن، تجلت عنه سحابة قثماء، حوله أغيلمة، فأخذه أبو طالب، فألصق ظهره بالكعبة، ولاذ بإصبعه الغلام، وما في السماء قزعة، فأقبل السحاب من ههنا وههنا، وأغدق واغدودق، وانفجر الوادي وأخضب النادي والبادي، وإلى هذا أشار أبو طالب حين قال :وأبيض يستسقي الغمام بوجهه … ثمال اليتامى ع
It means: “Ibn Asakir narrated from Jalhumah bin Urfathah, he said: I came to Mecca and they were experiencing a drought. So, the Quraysh said, “O Abu Talib! The valley is experiencing a drought, and our children are starving, so come and ask for rain.” Then, Abu Talib went out with a boy, whose face was like the sun at sunset. A white cloud appeared from him, surrounded by children. Abu Talib took the boy, placed his back against the Ka’bah, and held the boy’s fingers, even though there were no clouds in the sky. Then, clouds came from here and there, rained heavily, and the valley overflowed. The city and its surroundings became lush.”
Then Abu Talib indicated this in a poem: A white-faced one, who asks the clouds for rain, A refuge for orphans and protector of widows.
Asking for Rain as a Prophet
Well, folks, if we talk about the miracles of Prophet Muhammad, the story doesn’t end there. There is another story written by Imam Bukhari, who is very famous as a hadith expert. He narrated that after the Prophet was appointed as a Prophet, Mecca was once again struck by a severe drought. It was a really tough test for its inhabitants.
They eventually sought out the Prophet Muhammad to ask for help, desperately wanting rain to fall. This story is further explained by Imam Ibn Kathir in his book “al Bidayah wa an Nihayah.” If you want to know the details, you can check Volume 8, page 589.
وقال البخاري : ثنا محمد – هو ابن سلام – ثنا أبو ضمرة ، ثنا شريك بن عبد الله بن أبي نمر ، أنه سمع أنس بن مالك يذكر أن رجلا دخل المسجد يوم جمعة من باب كان وجاه المنبر ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قائم يخطب ، فاستقبل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قائما ، فقال يا رسول الله هلكت الأموال ، وتقطعت السبل ، فادع الله لنا يغيثنا . قال : فرفع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يديه ، فقال : ” اللهم اسقنا ، اللهم اسقنا ، اللهم اسقنا ” قال أنس : ولا والله ما نرى في السماء من سحاب ولا قزعة ولا شيئا ، ولا بيننا وبين سلع من بيت ولا دار . قال : فطلعت من ورائه سحابة مثل الترس ، فلما توسطت السماء انتشرت ثم أمطرت . قال : فوالله ما رأينا الشمس سبتا ، ثم دخل رجل من ذلك الباب في الجمعة المقبلة ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قائم يخطب ، فاستقبله قائما ، وقال : يا رسول الله هلكت الأموال ، وانقطعت السبل ادع الله أن يمسكها . قال : فرفع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يديه ، ثم قال : ” اللهم حوالينا ، ولا علينا ، اللهم على الآكام والجبال والظراب والأودية ، منابت الشجر ” قال : فانقطعت وخرجنا نمشي في الشمس . قال شريك : فسألت أنسا : أهو الرجل الأول ؟ قال : لا أدري
Imam Bukhari said: Muhammad bin Salam, Abu Dhamrah, and Syarik bin Abdullah bin Abi Nimar told me that they heard Anas bin Malik narrate that a man entered the mosque on a Friday from a door facing the pulpit while the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was giving a sermon. The man stood facing the Prophet and said, “O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has perished, and the roads are cut off. Pray to Allah for us to bring rain.”
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) raised his hands and said, “O Allah, give us rain, O Allah, give us rain, O Allah, give us rain.” Anas said, “By Allah, we did not see any clouds, rain, or anything in the sky, nor between us and the Sal’ (mountain) was there any house or building.”
Then a cloud appeared from behind it like a shield. When the cloud was in the middle of the sky, it spread and then it rained.
Anas said, “By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week,”. Then, a man entered from that door on the next Friday while the Prophet was giving a sermon. The man stood facing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has perished, and the roads are cut off. Pray to Allah to stop the rain.”
The Prophet raised his hands and said, “O Allah, around us and not upon us. O Allah, on the hills and mountains, the slopes and valleys, the places where trees grow.”
The rain stopped, and we walked out in the sunlight. Syarik said, “I asked Anas: Was it the same man?,”. Anas replied, “I do not know.”
Source:
- https://islam.nu.or.id/sirah-nabawiyah/kisah-rasulullah-meminta-hujan-saat-kemarau-panjang-tV40W
- https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flat-monsoon-season-illustration-with-man-facing-strong-winds-with-umbrella_27999499.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=14&uuid=d48d2003-c3f1-4c5e-ba2c-83b6f1587c08
