Strengthening the Ummah

Anas bin Malik said, "A person entered the Mosque on a Friday through the gate facing the Daril-
Qada' and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was standing delivering the Khutba (sermon). The man stood in front of
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; please pray
to Allah for rain.' So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) raised both his hands and said, 'O Allah! Bless us with
rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain!" Anas added, "By Allah, there were no
clouds in the sky and there was no house or building between us and the mountain of Sila'. Then a big
cloud like a shield appeared from behind it (i.e. Silas Mountain) and when it came in the middle of the
sky, it spread and then rained. By Allah! We could not see the sun for a week. The next Friday, a
person entered through the same gate and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was delivering the Friday Khutba and the
man stood in front of him and said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The livestock are dying and the roads are cut
off; Please pray to Allah to withhold rain.' " Anas added, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised both his hands and
said, 'O Allah! Round about us and not on us. O Allah!' On the plateaus, on the mountains, on the
hills, in the valleys and on the places where trees grow.' " Anas added, "The rain stopped and we came
out, walking in the sun." Sharik asked Anas whether it was the same person who had asked for rain
the previous Friday. Anas replied that he did not know.