Rain, a Rainbow and Baby Mo's Du'a

Suddenly the sky went dark. Grey clouds gathered over Baby Mo's house.

Tip. Tip. Tip-tip-tip! Down came the rain. Baby Mo ran into the house.

He pressed his nose to the window. "Umi, it's raining so hard! I can't play outside."

Umi sat down beside him. "When rain falls, it's a good time to make du'a, Mo."

Umi taught him the du'a: "Allahumma shayyiban nafi'an" — O Allah, make this a beneficial rain.

When the Prophet ﷺ saw rain, he said: "Allahumma shayyiban nafi'an." (Bukhari 1032)

Baby Mo repeated it slowly: "Allahumma… shayyiban… nafi'an." Then once more, a little smoother!

"Umi, what does beneficial mean?" asked Baby Mo. "Look outside," said Umi. "Who is happy about the rain?"

The trees were drinking. The flowers were having a bath. The leaves shone as if they'd just been washed.

The frogs sang, "Ribbit! Ribbit!" A snail came out of its shell, very, very slowly.

Then the rain stopped. The sun peeped out. Baby Mo pulled on his yellow boots and ran outside!

Splash! Splash! Baby Mo jumped in the puddles — carefully, gently, so he wouldn't slip.

Then Baby Mo looked up at the sky… and went quiet. "Umi… look!"

A rainbow curved across the sky: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.

"Allah gave us rain for the trees, the flowers, the frogs… and then gave us a rainbow!" said Baby Mo. "It was beneficial rain!"

Baby Mo and the little frog watched the rainbow together until its colours slowly faded.

From that day on, whenever it rained, Baby Mo was the first to pray: "Allahumma shayyiban nafi'an!" Who is happy when it rains? 🌈