Seeking Rain through Lunar Phases (Constellation)
Allah the Most Exalted said:
“And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, on the contrary, you deny Him (by disbelief) (and say that we have rain because of such and such lunar phase and such and such star)!” (56: 82)
Abu Malik Al-Ash‘ari (R.A.) narrated Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying:
“My Ummah will not abandon four undesirable matters from the Period of Ignorance (period previous to Islam). They are: (1) Over pridefulness in ancestors; (2) Defaming or slandering someone’s lineage; (3) Seeking rain according to the stars, i.e. believing that falling star causes the rain on the earth; and (4) Lamentation and wailing of women for the dead.” He (SAW) further said, “If the bewailing woman does not repent before her death, she will be raised on the Day of the Resurrection covered with a dress of liquid pitch, and a cloak of itches.” (Muslim)
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid (R.A.):
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) led us in the Fajr prayer at Hudaibiyah after a rainy night. On completion of the Salat (prayer), he faced the people and said, “Do you know what your Lord (SWT) has said (revealed)?” The people replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He (SAW) said “Allah has said, ‘In this morning, some of Ibadi (My slaves) remained as true believers and some became disbelievers; whoever said that the rain was due to the blessings and the Mercy of Allah is the one who believes in Me and he disbelieve in the star, and whoever said that it rained because of a particular star, is a disbeliever in Me and the believer in star.”
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Al-Bukhari and Muslim also have a similar Hadith from Ibn Abbas (R.A.) where it has been said that Allah revealed the following verses (Surah Waqi‘ah 56: 75-82); when some said that it rained because of such and such star:
“So I swear by Mawaqi (setting or the mansions etc.) of the stars (they traverse). And verily, that is indeed a great oath, if you but know. That (this) is indeed an honorable recital (the Noble Qur’an). In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz). Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but those who are pure from sins (i.e. the angels) . A Revelation (this Qur’an) from the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). It is such a talk (this Qur’an) that you (disbelievers) deny? And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, on the contrary, you deny Him (by disbelief)!”
Important issues of the Chapter
1) Explanation of the verses in Al-Waqi‘ah (56: 75-82)
2) The four undesirable customs of the pre-Islamic period.
3) The Kufr (disbelief) contained in some of them.
4) That some acts of disbelief do not expel one from the religion (of Islam).
5) The Statement of Allah:
“In this morning, some of Ibadi (my slaves) remained as true believers and some became disbelievers…”.
due to the favor bestowed upon them (of rain).
6) The understanding of Iman in such a circumstance.
7) The understanding of Kufr (disbelief) in such a circumstance.
8) The understanding of his statement in response to some who verified: “It rained because of such and such star.”
9) The scholar’s teaching to students by way of a question to explain the issue as the Prophet (SAW) said: “Do you know what your Lord (SWT) has said (revealed)?”
10) Punishment promised to the bewailing women.