Question:
Is the hadith which states that Allah SWT halted the rain has any basis?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
According to the above question, we state as the following:
Matan Hadith
From Abu Umamah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إنَّ قبلَ خروجِ الدَّجَّالِ ثلاثَ سنواتٍ شِدادٍ ، يُصِيبُ الناسَ فيها جُوعٌ شديدٌ ، يأمرُ اللهُ السماءَ السنةَ الأولى أن تَحْبِسَ ثُلُثَ مَطَرِها ، ويأمرُ الأرضَ أن تَحْبِسَ ثُلُثَ نباتِها ، ثم يأمرُ السماءَ في السنةِ الثانيةِ فتَحْبِسُ ثُلُثَيْ مَطَرِها ، ويأمرُ الأرضُ فتَحْبِسُ ثُلُثَيْ نباتِها ، ثم يأمرُ السماءَ في السنةِ الثالثةِ فتَحْبِسُ مطرَها كلَّه ، فلا تَقْطُرُ قُطْرةً ، ويأمرُ الأرضَ فتَحْبِسُ نباتَها كلَّه فلا تُنْبِتُ خضراءَ ، فلا يَبْقَى ذاتُ ظِلْفٍ إلا هَلَكَت إلا ما شاء اللهُ ، قيل : فما يُعِيشُ الناسَ في ذلك الزمانِ ؟ قال : التهليلُ ، والتكبيرُ ، والتحميدُ ، ويُجْزِئُ ذلك عليهم مَجْزَأَةَ الطعامِ
“Indeed, three years will be filled with tribulations before the emergence of dajjal, humans will be plagued with famine, Allah SWT commanded the skies on the first year to halt one third of rain and Allah SWT commanded the earth to halt one third of resources from the land. Then Allah SWT commanded the skies on the second year to halt two thirds of the rain and Allah SWT commanded the earth to halt two thirds of the resources from the land. Then Allah SWT commanded the skies on the third year to completely halt the rain and from then onwards not a single drop of rain fall. At the same time, Allah SWT also commanded the earth to completely halt the resources of the land until there is no greenery that grows. Thus, animals with claws no longer live where all of them died except those Allah wills otherwise. It is said: How then would people live during this time? The prophet PBUH answered: “Tahlil, takbir and tahmid would feed them just as food did.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah, in the book al-Fitan, under the chapter the tribulation of dajjal (antichrist) and the emergence of Jesus the son of Mary, no. Hadith 4067, Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah, no. Hadith 7875, 2:1302] [This hadith is evaluated by al-Albani in Sahih Jami’ al-Saghir wa Ziyadatuhu 2:1302, no. hadith 7875]
Fiqh al-Hadith
This hadith narrated the situation and condition in the end of times before the rise of the dajjal (antichrist) on earth and a sign of the coming of dajjal is drought and decrease in vegetation. According to the apparent meaning of the text of the hadith, the Prophet PBUH narrated that before the coming of dajjal, the earth will be completely dry without even a droplet of rainfall. Furthermore, people will no longer have food to eat except dhikr which will be able to fill them.
This shows that the blessing and honour of Allah SWT for the Muslim ummah at the time are to always remember Him. Moreover, dhikr is able to energize and revitalize our bodies according to a hadith narrated by Ali bin Abi Talib RA when Fatimah RA complained to the Prophet PBUH that her hands blistered and wanted a slave to help her. The prophet PBUH said:
أَلَا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ ؟ إِذَا أَوَيْتُمَا إِلَى فِرَاشِكُمَا، أَوْ أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا، فَكَبِّرَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ، وَسَبِّحَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ، وَاحْمَدَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ، فَهَذَا خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ
Shall I not tell you of a thing which is better for you than a servant? When you (both) go to your beds, say 'Allahu Akbar' thirty-four times, and 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al hamdu 'illah' thirty-three times, for that is better for you than a servant."
[Sahih al-Bukhari (5843) the book of supplications, chapter takbir and tasbih when going to sleep]
According to the above hadith, it is clear to us that practising dhikr will directly improve the strength of our bodies.
The Definition of Dajjal (Antichrist)
Dajjal lexically means covering something. The reason is among the characteristics of Dajjal is al-Kazib (liar/deceiver) and lying is an act of covering or hiding something. Besides, Dajjal alaso means hiding the truth and deceive people, beautifying bathil matters. Dajjal appears in sighah mubalaghah (excessive form) which is “فَعَّال” for Dajjal will commit excessive deceptions and lies.
Whereas, the term Dajjal is known with several characteristics of dajjal stated by the Prophet PBUH through his hadiths. Among them are:
- A man
- Has curly and messy hair
- One of his eyes is blind
- Between his two eyes there is the word كفر (kufur/disbelief) written
The Guidance from the Prophet PBUH on How to Face the Trials of Dajjal
In a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim, from Abu Darda’ the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْف عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ
“If anyone memorizes ten verses from the beginning of surat al-Kahf, he will be protected from the trial of Dajjal (Antichrist).”
[Sahih Muslim (1342) the book of prayer for traveller and qasar, the chapter on the advantages of surah al-Kahfi and the verses of al-Kursi]
The reason is Imam al-Suyuthi said the beginning of the surah narrated the miracles and signs for those who contemplates on them (reciting as well as understanding their meanings) will be saved from the trials of Dajjal and the same for its endings (the ending verses of surah al-Kahfi). (See Al-Dibaj ala Muslim, 2:403)
Methodology in Facing the Trials of Dajjal
Among the methodologies in facing the trials of Dajjal are:
- Holding unto the guidance of al-Quran and al-Hadith
- Increasing one’s supplications to Allah SWT so that we are saved from any trials as well as increasing our good deeds
- Practise uzlah (self-isolation) from fitnah that is happening
- Participating and always be with the Muslim ummah at the time
- Increase one’s istighfar and ask Allah SWT for forgiveness
- Dajjal cannot enter Mecca and Medina
- Increase dhikrullah (dhikr to Allah SWT) and always remember Him in accordance with the above hadith
Conclusion
To conclude, we are already approaching the ends of times where people are starting to get further away from the teachings of al-Quran and al-Sunnah. For this, it is our responsibility to always prepare ourselves from falling into trials that could destroy our faith. Lastly, may Allah SWT protect our faith and save us from all types of trials especially the trials of Dajjal. Amin.