Ibn ʿAsākir likewise transmits with a sound chain that al-Dahhāk ibn Qays once led the people out to beseech rain. He said to Yazīd ibn al-Aswad as well, “Stand up, O tearful one.” Another version adds: “He had scarcely supplicated three times before rain fell so heavily that they feared they might drown.”

Thus Muʿāwiyah—may Allah be pleased with him—did not seek Allah’s favor through the Prophet ﷺ, as has already been explained. Rather, he sought it through this righteous man, Yazīd ibn al-Aswad—may Allah have mercy on him—asking him to pray to Allah to send them rain and relief, and Allah answered his plea. A similar incident occurred during the rule of al-Dahhāk ibn Qays as well.