The Gate of Mercy: When the Prophet Asked For Rain

After seeing our brothers and sisters praying Salat-ul-Istisqa (prayer for rain) in the Bay area this past weekend, and the subsequent rainfall, let us remember the story of the man who once interrupted the Prophet's khutbah, asking for rain:

Anas bin Malik said, "A person entered the Mosque on a Friday through the gate facing the Daril-Qada' and the Messenger of Allah was standing delivering the khutba (sermon). The man stood in front of the Messenger of Allah and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; please pray to Allah for rain.' So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 Silas'. Then a big cloud like a shield appeared from behind it 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 Apostle was delivering the Friday khutba and the man stood in front of him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah! The livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; Please pray to Allah to withhold rain.' " Anas added, "The Messenger of Allah 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." (Sahih Bukhari 2: 17: 127)

The gate through which this bedouin walked is still known and preserved today in Masjid-al-Nabawi, and appropriately enough, is called the "The Gate of Rahmah (merciful love)", just next to the gate of Abu Bakr on the western side of the mosque. He entered through that gate in search of mercy, and left with more than he could ever imagine.

Like the bedouin let us call on Allah through His gates of Mercy and emulate the Messenger of Mercy ﷺ. May Allah shower this ummah with the rains of His mercy and love...