Chapter: The prohibition of saying, “We were given rain by the rising of such-and-such a star”

1731 – Zayd ibn Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the dawn prayer at al-Hudaybiyah after rain had fallen during the night. When he finished the prayer, he turned toward the people and said, “Do you know what your Lord has declared?” They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “This morning some of My servants have awakened as believers in Me and others as disbelievers. Whoever said, ‘We have been given rain by the favor and mercy of Allah,’ is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars, whereas whoever said, ‘We have been given rain by the rising of such-and-such a star,’ is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the stars.” Agreed upon. In this narration the word “sky” (samāʾ) refers to rain.

As for the second heading—the prohibition of saying, “We have been given rain by the rising of such-and-such”—it is likewise narrated from Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him). He related that they were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at al-Hudaybiyah, the well-known expedition. The Prophet had set out for Mecca intending to perform ʿumrah, taking with him sacrificial camels. When he reached al-Hudaybiyah, a tract situated between the sacred precinct and the area outside it, Quraysh barred him from entering Mecca, and the famous treaty then took place between them and the Prophet. Yet on one of those nights the Prophet led them in prayer.