421 – On the authority of Saʿd (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet ﷺ invoked during the rain-seeking prayer (istisqāʾ): ‘O Allah, envelop us in a cloud that is thick, mighty, torrential, brilliant with flashes, and make it rain upon us a gentle drizzle, tiny drops, and copious showers. O Possessor of Majesty and Honor!’ ” Recorded by Abū ʿAwanah in his Ṣaḥīḥ ⦗1⦘.

• Status of the ḥadith
The report is very weak, yet it is supported by numerous other chains with similar wording. Al-Talḫīṣ notes: Abū ʿAwanah transmitted it with a feeble chain, then listed several narrations on the subject and concluded: “These narrations, coming from ten Companions altogether, give a cumulative strength greater than the ḥadith of Ibn ʿUmar, which states that whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sought rain he said: ‘O Allah, water us with a rainfall that is beneficial, abundant, wholesome, copious, ample, drenching, widespread, soaking, continuous. O Allah, grant us rain and do not make us among the despairing …’ and so forth.”

• Vocabulary
– jallilnā: from tajlīl, to blanket or cover the land completely.
– kathīfan: dense, heavily piled.
– qaṣīfan: whose thunder cracks with a loud sound.
– dalūqan: pouring down in torrents, gushing forcefully; dalq means to rush forth vehemently.