Is there any mention in a Hadith about the first rain of the season being a cure?
Or any mention about the first rain of the season, that a person should wet himself with it, is this found in any Hadith or as a practice of Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum).
Answer
A Hadith in Sahih Bukhari states that once when there was a drought in Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) made ‘istisqa (beseech Allah for rain).
When the rain commenced, Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) allowed it to drip onto his blessed face and beard…
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1033. Chapter of intentionally getting wet in the rain)
Shaykhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandehlawi (rahimahullah) states [on the authority of Shah Waliullah -rahimahullah-] that based on this Hadith, some ‘Ulama encourage bathing in the first rain of the season. [Since this particular rain was the first after the drought]
(Taqrir Bukhari, part. 3 pg. 207, also see Al-Kanzul Mutawari, vol. 6 pg. 279)
A General Hadith
Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alayhi wasallam) went into the rain, opened his chest or any part of his body and let the rain fall on his body. Upon enquiry, Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Indeed it (the rain) has just recently come from my Lord.’ [i.e, it is therefore, a source of blessing.]
(Sahih Muslim Hadith: 2080)
‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) explains that based on this Hadith, the Shafi’i scholars have encouraged doing the same in the first rain of the season.
(Al-Minhaj, Hadith: 2080)
For a full article on ‘The sunnah response to rain’ see here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar