Shaikh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlawi (rahimahullah) narrates the following incident:

Delhi was once struck by a very severe drought. Due to the prolonged lack of rain, farms produced no crops and trees bore no fruit. People were suffering to the extent that they longed for even basic bread. Every person made du‘aa for rain yet there was not even the slightest sign of a cloud in the sky.

The ‘Ulama of the city eventually decided that all the people would gather in an open field on an appointed day. All the people, the children and even the animals were to come and ‘Salaatul Istisqaa’ (salaah for rain) was to be performed. After the salaah, everybody would repent from their sins and make du‘aa for rain.

When the appointed day arrived, everyone gathered outside the city, their faces burning from the intense heat of the blazing sun. After the salaah was performed, all exerted themselves in du‘aa, crying and begging for rain. To their dismay, however, not even a wisp of a cloud was visible in the open sky. The children were now restless and the animals thirsty. The condition of the people had deteriorated due to their excessive crying. They continued to exert themselves until the time of ‘Asr Salaah arrived.

As they were crying and begging Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa, a young traveller happened to pass by the open field. He was holding the bridle of his camel while walking on foot. Seated on the camel was a woman covered in a veil. On seeing the people in distress, he stopped his camel and asked them what was going on. After hearing the details of their plight, he went to his camel and lifted his hands in du‘aa. Before he could even lower his hands, the sky filled with clouds and rain began to fall in torrents!

An ‘aalim went up to the youngster and asked him how he had attained the good fortune of being a person whose du‘aas were instantly answered. The youngster replied, “Seated on the camel is my mother. She has led a life of such purity and chastity, that neither has she ever set eyes on a strange man nor has a strange man ever set eyes on her. I clutched the end of her shawl and pleaded to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa, ‘O Rabb of the universe! This is my pious and chaste mother. If her piety and chastity is valued in your sight, then shower your rain upon your servants.’ I had not yet put my hands down when the rain began to fall.”

(Khawaateen-e-Islam ke Kaarnaame pg. 212 and Hayaa aur Paakdaamanee pg. 36)

Lessons:

1. Allah Ta‘ala has such love for chastity and purity that they are literally the key to the floodgates of His mercy. By mentioning his mother’s chastity, the youngster’s du‘aa was immediately accepted.

2. A pious and chaste person is not the only person to benefit from his own righteousness. Rather, when his righteousness attracts the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, even those around him get “thrown in” and benefit.

3. Just as men have to guard their gazes, women too have to guard their gazes. A floating gaze has led to many a marriage ending up on the rocks or even being totally wrecked.