Rain

Fourteen centuries ago, Allah sent down the Qur'an to mankind as a book of guidance. He called upon people to be guided to the truth by adhering to this book. From the day of its revelation to the day of judgement, this last divine book will remain the sole guide for humanity. The matchless style of the Qur'an and the superior wisdom in it are definite evidence that it is the word of God. In addition, the Qur'an has many miraculous attributes proving that it is a revelation from God. One of these attributes is the fact that a number of scientific truths that we have only been able to uncover by the technology of the 20th century were stated in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago. Quran speaks about one of the most important factor of life i.e., rain in several places. [1]
Rain is one of the most important sources of freshwater for land-living organisms. We can see great wisdom in the fact that rain comes down from the sky. Ibn al-Qayyim observes [Miftâh Dâr al-Sa`âdah (1/323)]: Consider the great wisdom in the rains falling upon the Earth from on high, thereby quenching the thirst of all the land – reaching all the hills and plains, all the mountains and valleys, all the highlands and lowlands. Had Allah only brought water to the land from a terrestrial source, then water would never reach the highlands unless it gathered in great quantities and rose up from the lowlands, laying waste to great stretches of land. Therefore, Allah’s wisdom dictated that he would bring water to the Earth from above, bringing forth clouds to give drink to the land, sending the winds to carry the water vapor from the seas to fecundate seed the clouds…” [2]

Quran
O mankind! Remember the Grace of Allah upon you! Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky (rain) and the earth? La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turning away (from Him)? Quran Surah 35:3
[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. Quran Surah 2:22
And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy until, when they have carried heavy rain clouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Quran Surah 7:57
It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers. Quran Surah 14:32
It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. Quran Surah 16:10
Rain as a sign from Allah
Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. Quran Surah 2:164
And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees - of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. Quran Surah 6:99
And Allah has sent down rain from the sky and given life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who listen. Quran Surah 16:65
Do you not see that Allah has sent down rain from the sky and the earth becomes green? Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. Quran Surah 22:63
And if you asked them, "Who sends down rain from the sky and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness?" they would surely say " Allah ." Say, "Praise to Allah "; but most of them do not reason. Quran Surah 29:63
And among His Signs is this, that He sends the winds as glad tidings, giving you a taste of His Mercy (i.e. rain), and that the ships may sail at His Command, and that you may seek of His Bounty, in order that you may be thankful. Quran Surah 30:46
Nations that were punished by rain
The people of Nuh
So he invoked his Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help." Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down. And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined. And We carried him on a [construction of Ship] planks and nails, Floating under Our Eyes, a reward for him who had been rejected! Quran Surah al-Qamar 54: 10-14
And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people." Quran Surah 11:44
The people of `Ad were punished
`A’ishah relates that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) noticed the wind pick up or saw a cloud, a change could be seen to come over his face. So she said: “O Messenger of Allah, when the people see the clouds, they feel happy, hoping that they bring rain. Yet, I notice that when you see them, an expression of dislike can be seen on your face.” He said: “O A’ishah. I am not secure that it does not come with punishment. A people were punished by wind. When the people saw the punishment coming, they said: ‘This cloud will give us rain!’ [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4829)]
Allah send Rain of stones And We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how was the end of the criminals. Quran Surah 7:84
And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment. Quran Surah 46:24
The People of Lut
Then there were people of Lot (peace be upon him) about whom Allah says: “We rained down on them a rain, and evil was the rain on those who had been warned.” Quran Sûrah al-Shu`arâ’ 26: 173
Calamity still befalls humanity by way of water. The tsunami that recently occurred in the Indian Ocean is a grave reminder of the devastating effects that water can have. In a span of a few brief minutes, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives. We ask Allah to protect us.
Rain as Purification
[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet. Quran Surah 8: 11
Seeking forgiveness from Allah
If humans seek forgiveness then Allah send rain: And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. Quran Surah 71: 10-12 [3][4]
Hadith
Narrated Aisha(R):Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw the rain, he used to say, "O Allah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain." Sahih al-Bukhari 1032 (Vol.2: 142) It was narrated from Abdullah bin Zaid that:The Prophet (ﷺ) went out to pray for rain, and he prayed two rak'ahs facing the Qiblah. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1520

Some Sunnah acts associated with rain

The Sunnah recommends to us a number of devotional acts that we should engage in when the rains come. Among them are the following:
1. It is Sunnah to allow the rain to fall down upon us. Anas relates:
We were with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) when rain fell upon us. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) opened up his garment a bit so that the rain could touch his skin. We asked: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this?” He replied: “Because it has just recently come from its Lord.” Sahîh Muslim 898
2. We should mention the remembrances that are prescribed for rain. These include the following:
a. `A’ishah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would say: “O Allah! (Make it) a copious, beneficial rain.” Sahîh al-Bukhârî 1032
b. `A’ishah also relates that he would also say: “Mercy” when it rained. Sahîh Muslim 899
c. Khâlid b. Zayd relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would say: “We are given rain by Allah’s mercy, Allah’s providence, and Allah’s grace.” Sahîh al-Bukhârî 4147
3. We should offer general supplication when the rains fall. This is one of the times when supplications are accepted, as related by al-Hâkim.
4. When the rains fall down so heavily that harmful consequences are feared, it is Sunnah to supplicate saying: “O Allah! Around us and not upon us. O Allah! Upon the mounts and the hills, down the valleys, and to the roots of the trees.” Sahîh al-Bukhârî 1014 and Sahîh Muslim 897
5. When we hear the sound of thunder, we should say: “O Allah, do not destroy us with Your wrath and do not cause us to perish with your punishment. Spare us before that.” Musnad Ahmad (2/100), Sunan al-Tirmidhî (350), and al-Adab al-Mufrid (721) and declared authentic by al-Hâkim
When Ibn al-Zubayr heard thunder, he used to stop speaking and then say: “Glory be to the One who the thunder extols in praise, and the angels extol in awe.” al-Muwatta’ (1801) and al-Adab al-Mufrid 723 [5]
Dua For rain
اللّهُمَّ أغِثْنا، اللّهُمَّ أغِثْنا، اللّهُمَّ أغِثْنا
Allaahumma 'aghithnaa, Allaahumma 'aghithnaa, Allaahumma 'aghithnaa. Meaning: O Allah , send us rain . O Allah , send us rain . Sahih al-Bukhari Vol 2: 1014 and Sahih Muslim 897
اللّهُمَّ اسْقِنا غَيْثاً مُغيثاً مَريئاً مُريعاً، نافِعاً غَيْرَ ضار، عاجِلاً غَيْرَ آجِل
Allaahumma 'asqinaa ghaysan mugheesan maree'an muree'an, naafi'an ghayrazaarrin, 'aajilan ghayra 'aajilin . Meaning: O Allah, shower upon us abundant rain, beneficial not harmful, swiftly and not delayed. Sunan Abi Dawud 1169 Classed as sahih by sheikh Albani
When it rains
اللّهُمَّ صَيِّباً نافِعاً
When it rained the Messenger of Allah would say: Allaahumma sayyiban naafi'an, meaning: O Allah , (bring) beneficial rain clouds, Sahih al-Bukhari 1032 (Vol.2: 142) Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 2/518 and Sunan an-Nasa'i 1523
Asking to withhold the rain
اللّهُمَّ حَوالَيْنا وَلا عَلَيْنا، اللّهُمَّ عَلى الآكامِ وَالظِّراب، وَبُطونِ الأوْدِية، وَمَنابِتِ الشَّجر
Allaahumma hawaalaynaa wa laa 'alaynaa. Allaahumma 'alal-'aakaami wadh-dhiraabi, wa butoonil-'awdiyati, wa manaabitish-shajari. Meaning: O Allah , let it pass us and not fall upon us , but upon the hills and mountains, and the center of the valleys , and upon the forested lands. Sahih al-Bukhari Vol 2: 1014 and Sahih Muslim 897
When the wind blows اللّهُمَّ إِنَّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَها، وَأَعوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّها
Allaahumma 'innee 'as'aluka khayrahaa, wa 'a'oothu bika min sharrihaa. Meaning: O Allah , I ask You for the good of it and seek refuge in You against its evil. Abu Dawud 4/326, Ibn Majah 2/1228. See also Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah 2/305