بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
As the glorious sunshine is upon us, I can’t help but smile. I can’t help but smile to see the people around me smile. I have a spring in my step, the birds are chirping, the days are longer and the possibilities are endless (well except for those who’ve got exams! Ah well, sucks for you!).
But amidst all this loveliness I can’t help but ponder why we can’t be this happy when it’s pouring with rain, thundering and lightening? Ok well I suppose the thunder and lightening is pretty scary any given day but rain…! Rain is good, rain is beneficial, it provides sustenance and life! Then why does it make us so miserable? I’ve come to the conclusion that it is just the way we have been conditioned. Socialised by society into being unappreciative. I mean we’ve all heard ‘mercy like the rain is falling down’ right? (you haven’t?! Really…?!!) Point being I’ve decided our attitudes are borne out of learned behaviour and totally changeable, so here goes…
Personally seeing how Allah swt uses the imagery of rain in the Quran is a powerful reminder of it’s importance for me.
Rain as a metaphor for resurrection
32:27 Are they not aware that it is We who drive the rain onto dry land devoid of herbage, and thereby bring forth herbage of which their cattle and they themselves do eat? Can they not, then, see [the truth of resurrection]?
Rain to reminding us of Allah’s divine wrath and punishment that comes upon rejecting Allah and persisting in wrongdoings
25:40 And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection!
2:19 Or [the parable] of a violent cloudburst in the sky, with utter darkness, thunder and lightning: they put their fingers into their ears to keep out the peals of thunder, in terror of death; but God encompasses [with His might] all who deny the truth.
Rain as a reminder of Allah’s divine Mercy and compassion towards creation
42:28 And it is He who sends down rain after [men] have lost all hope, and unfolds His grace [thereby]: for He alone is [their] Protector, the One to whom all praise is due.
50:9-11 And We send down from the skies water rich in blessings, and cause thereby gardens to grow, and fields of grain. And tall palm-trees with their thickly-clustered dates, as sustenance appor¬tioned to men; and by [all] this We bring dead land to life: [and] even so will be [man’s] coming-forth from death.
I hear weather forecasts of rain next week so keep those smiles in place, remember it is a time of duas being accepted (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah) and off you go 🙂
[Small disclaimer: I am not advocating or suggesting getting soaked by acid rain. Be sure to take your umbrellas!]
I leave you with excerpts of a beautiful prayer for rain, translated by Sh. Humza Yusuf
O You who save all those who plead
If You don’t answer who gives heed
We have no other Lord who saves
Save You alone O Lord of slaves
O Lord from You we’ve often heard
“Forgiveness seek from your dear Lord”
The clouds will come with rain and snow
To quench the slaves and earth below
Give us, give us the rain on high
To fall on earth wherein we lie
And by the chosen, Lord please give
O Generous, Graceful, forgive
Bless him O God as long as rain
From heaven falls without refrain
Read the full dua here: http://www.zaytuna.org/seasonsjournal/seasons5/34-35_rain_prayer.pdf
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