The Forgotten Sunnah of Uncovering Part of the Body at the Beginning of Rainfall

Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan hafidhuhallah was asked:

Question: May Allah be good to you, Oh Generous Parent. The questioner says: Did the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam remove the turban from his head during the beginning of a rainfall or did he remove it during the entire time the rain fell?

Answer: “At the beginning of the rainfall. He would go out during the beginning of the rainfall and allow some rain to fall on him. Yes”

[Taken from: http://islamancient.com/play.php?catsmktba=67650]

Imam an-Nawaawi rahimahullah said:

وفي هذا الحديث دليل لقول أصحابنا أنه يستحب عند أول المطر أن يكشف غير عورته ليناله المطر

“In this Hadith is evidence for the statement of our companions (i.e. the Shafi’ee Scholars) that it is recommended to uncover some part of the body, other than the awrah, during the beginning of the rainfall in order for some of the rain to fall on it”

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim]

Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah was asked:

Question: Is it from the Sunnah when the rain descends for a person to uncover his head and allow the rain to fall on it”?

Answer: “Yes, it is from the Sunnah for a person to uncover something of his body when the rain descends in order for the rain to fall on it. That is not specific to the head. When the rain fell,the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam used to uncover his clothing so the rain could fall on it.

On the authority of Anas ibn Malik radiallahu anhu who said:

A shower of rain fell on us when we were with the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) went out and removed his garment till some of the rain fell on him. We asked him; apostle of Allah! Why did you do this? He replied: Because it has recently been with its Lord”

[Saheeh Sunan Abu Dawood no. 5100]

[Taken from: http://islamancient.com/play.php?catsmktba=11657]

Note: Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah mentioned it is not from the Sunnah to remain in the rain continuously. The narration says that some of the rain fell on him, not to remain in it. He also said that the jurists said a person can go out into the rain, if he is indoors, in order for the rain to fall on him [See here: http://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=tadevi&id=2294&coid=35507]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan