Question
What is the authenticity of the following narration?
When it is raining if you recite this salutation [durud] once, for every drop of rain that falls, you will receive ten good deeds, ten of your deeds will be forgiven and your rank will increase by ten:
اللهم صل علي محمد بعدد قطرات الامطار
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin bi ‘adadi qataratil amtar
O Allah! Send salutations upon Muhammad as many as the number of raindrops
Answer
I have not come across this narration in any primary Hadith source nor in any secondary source.
This seems to be formulated and deduced from the following narration:
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever sends salutations upon me once, Allah Ta’ala will send salutations upon him ten-fold, will erase ten sins from him, and will raise him ten degrees in status.”
(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 1297)
This narration states that each time a person physically recites salutations he will receive this reward. It is therefore incorrect to state that by reciting the salutation mentioned in the question once a person will be granted ten good deeds and his rank will be increased by ten for every drop that falls.
However, if a person recites the salutation in the question once when it rains, it is hoped that he will receive reward of salutations for the number of all the raindrops insha Allah.
(See: Ad Durrul Mandud of Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al Haytami, pg. 179 for more on this principle)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar