Question:
Are there any specific supplications recited by the Prophet PBUH upon hearing the sound of lightning or thunder?
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 family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We as a believer shall always make du’a towards Allah SWT because humans are full of flaws and always in need of their Creator all the time. Hence, there are plenty of supplications taught by the Prophet PBUH upon us to be practised on a daily basis.
Referring to the question above, hereby we cite some narrations which state some recitations upon hearing the sound of thunder or lightning. Among them are:
كَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ صَوْتَ الرَّعْدِ وَالصَّوَاعِقِ قَالَ: "اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَقْتُلْنَا بِغَضَبِكَ وَلاَ تُهْلِكْنَا بِعَذَابِكَ وَعَافِنَا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ"
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would hear the sound of thunder and lightning bolts, he would say: “O Allah, do not kill us with Your wrath, and do not destroy us with Your punishment, and pardon us before that (Allāhumma lā taqtulnā bi-ghaḍabika wa lā tuhliknā bi-`adhābika wa `āfinā qabla dhālik).”
[Sahih al-Tirmizi (3450)] [Imam al-Tirmizi group this hadith as gharib and it is not known except for this narration only]
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي يُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ هَذَا لَوَعِيدٌ شَدِيدٌ لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ
“Glory be to Allah whom the thunder glorifies with His praise and the angels from the fear of Him.” Then he says: “Verily, this is a harsh reminder for the earthlings”.
[Narrated by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta’ (1801)] [This hadith is also narrated by Imam al-Bukhari in-Adab al-Mufrad (724)]
Imam al-Nawawi said it is Sunnah for those who hear thunder to say words of tasbih as narrated by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta’ with a sahih sanad [Refer: al-Majmu’ Syarah al-Muhazzab 5/93]
Besides, lightning or thunder are among the blessings of Allah and His glory because they are able to instil fear in the heart of the people just by hearing it. Especially when people are sleeping soundly at their bed, then suddenly thunder strikes and makes them be anxious and in a great shock. [Refer: al-Raudhah al-Bahiyyah, 203]
Closing
In conclusion, indeed there are Sunnah supplications to be recited upon hearing thunder and lightning bolt. In fact, they are reminders and warnings from Allah SWT to all of us. Hence, we are encouraged to always remember Allah in every action we do, so that we are protected from His wrath. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us all be among the servants who are saved from disasters and afflictions. Ameen.
Wallahua’lam.