Section: Is it mustahabb to offer du‘aa’ when rain is falling? What should be said when rain falls and when hearing thunder?

Praise be to Allah.Firstly: It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw rain, he would say:اَللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًاTransliteration: Allaahumma sayyiban naafi'anTranslation: O Allah, (bring) beneficial rain clouds..” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1032)]According to a version narrated by Abu Dawood (5099), he used to say: اللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا هَنِيئًاTransliteration: Allaahumma sayyiban hanee’anTranslation: O Allah, (make it) a wholesome downpour.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.It is mustahabb to expose oneself to the rain and let some of it flow over one’s body, because of the proven report from Anas (RA) who said: When we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) it rained. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) lifted part of his garment so that the rain could fall on him. We said: O Messenger of Allah, why did you do that? He said: “Because it has just come from its Lord, may He be glorified and exalted.” [Narrated by Muslim (898)]When the rain grew severe, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:اَللّٰهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلَا عَلَيْنَا، اَللّٰهُمَّ عَلَى الْاٰكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ، وَبُطُوْنِ الْاَوْدِيَةِ، وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِTransliteration: “Allaahumma hawaalaynaa wa laa 'alaynaa. Allaahumma 'alal-'aakaami wadh-dhiraabi, wa butoonil-'awdiyati, wa manaabitish-shajar.Translation: O Allah, (let the rain fall) around us and not upon us, O Allah, (let it fall) the small mountains and hillocks, the valley bottoms and places where trees grow.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1014)]With regard to du‘aa’ when hearing thunder, it is proven from ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (RA) that when he heard thunder he would stop speaking and would say:سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ يُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهٖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيْفَتِهٖTransliteration: Subhaanal-lathee yusabbihur-ra'du bihamdihi wal-malaa'ikatu min kheefatihi.Translation: Glory be to the One whom the thunder glorifies and praises, and so do the angels because of His Awe. [Sahih (Albani). Adabul Mufrad: 560]Then he would say: This is a stern warning to the people of earth. [Narrated by al-Bukhaari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (723); Maalik in al-Muwatta’ (3641). Its isnaad was classed as saheeh by an-Nawawi in al-Adhkaar (235) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad (556)]We do not know of any marfoo‘ report from the Prophet (ﷺ) concerning that. Similarly, there is no proven dhikr or du‘aa’ from the Prophet (ﷺ) for seeing lightning, as far as we know. And Allah knows best.Secondly:The time when rain comes down is a time of divine bounty and mercy from Allah to His slaves, when the means of goodness are abundant, and it is a time when it is thought that du‘aa’s will be answered.It says in the marfoo‘ hadith of Sahl ibn Sa‘d that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Two (du‘aa’s) are not rejected: du‘aa’ at the time of the call to prayer and du‘aa’ at the time of rain.” [Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (2534); at-Tabaraani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer (5756); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (3078)]