RAIN should be a cause for cheer and jubilation. Normally, when it rains children happily run outside, prance in the puddles, and sing songs. Romantics gaze outside, listen to the patter on the window, and write poems. Believers raise their hands to the sky and make supplication with trust that their prayers will be answered. Sadly, rain in Jeddah is a cause for alarm and panic. Memories of lives lost, properties damaged, and people stranded for hours in the flash floods are still fresh and some of the wounds are still raw. Children are scared when it rains and schools frantically send students home, anticipating the worst. Jeddah residents witnessed the first showers of the year last Sunday. They hope that the government has kept its promises to fix Jeddah's infrastructure so it can drain off excessive rainwater and alleviate the dangers posed by flash floods. We must begin to heal our wounds and restore the beauty and significance of rain in Islam. Rain is a blessing from Allah; it is a sign of His mercy on mankind and all of creation. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an, “And We send down from the skies water rich in blessings, and cause thereby gardens to grow, and fields of grain” 50:9. Rain brings with it a promise of hope, life, lushness, and benefits. When it rained during the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, he would leave what he was doing, look at the sky, and say, “We are given rain by Allah's mercy, Allah's providence, and Allah's grace.” At the sight of thick, gray clouds, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would say, “Oh Allah, make it a beneficial rain cloud.” Rejoice during the rain and always be sure to make supplication. It is a part of our Prophet's tradition to supplicate to Allah during rain, as this is one of the times when supplications are more likely to be answered. “Two will not be rejected; supplication when the adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of rain,” said the Messenger of Allah. If there is a heavy storm and your children are frightened, it may soothe you all to recite the supplication that the Prophet used to say in the midst of rainstorms. “O Allah, let the rain fall around us and not upon us, O Allah, (let it fall) on the pasture, hills, valleys and roots of trees.” And upon hearing loud roars of thunder, Muslims are advised to say, “Glory be to the One who the thunder extols in praise, and the angels extol in awe.” We can all use a little more positivity and optimism when it comes to real rain or to metaphorical rain in our lives. Think of the saying: “And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”
