Compiled and edited by Cyril Anderson, with thanks to the participants in the 2007 Path of Light Family Camp, who contributed to the activity in which the sketching out of the ideas underlying this article took place.  Undoubtedly that moment will be
remembered always as a magical night when Muslim youths came together to put their creativity and dedication forward and the barriers that laid between them aside

 Let us reflect for a moment on the characteristics of soft rain.  In the Qu’ran, there are many instances in which we are called to observe the phenomena of nature so as to be able to take lessons and signs from these phenomena, and in so doing gain knowledge of spiritual truths.  The phenomenon of soft rain allows for such lessons to be learned.

 Rain is something so seemingly simple and mundane that we often take it for granted.  But when we look more deeply, we can see that there is something very rich and amazing about it.  Many characteristics come to mind, after some reflection.  First of all, soft rain is not overwhelming, but soft, and gentle.  It comes down and gives just what is needed to wet the dry earth, coming with a forcefulness that is neither too weak nor too overpowering, but just enough for the job it needs to do.

 It comes from high above, and comes all this way to us, from such a height if you dropped anything else, it would kill you when it hit you.  But when the rain drops hit you you can barely feel it, and if you do, it is a relief. 

 The soft rain is a relief that comes when it is needed, where it is needed.

 The rain drops are small on their own, but together come down in unison, all falling together, and together, bring nourishing water to the earth. 

 The water comes to the dry earth and penetrates into the soil and mixes in with it in a beneficial way; it does not hold back from the earth that needs moisture, does not keep itself isolated, but allows itself to mix in with the soil

 The raindrop is not uniformly shaped; its largest part is directed toward the ground toward which it comes.  Its smaller end is directed toward the source from which it comes.  The rain brings cleanness to what it touches, purifying it through its influence.

 The rainwater is unlike the groundwater which has been long detached from its source in the sky, and in contact with the ground in which it sits, taking on the characteristics and flavor of its surroundings.  The rainwater is fresh from its source, and always has the same pure taste, untainted by the surroundings

 Finally, the rainwater comes from its source to the earth, and then must later evaporate and return back to its source.

 Now at this point, the question one may ask is, “that is nice, but what is the significance of all this?”

 The significance and meaning of this reflection is seen in a famous narration from the Prophet Muhammad (saws), in which he said, “al Muslim kal ghayth – A Muslim is like soft rain.”  This is a very simple statement, yet it is also one which is incredibly deep, given the discussion of rain given above.

 Let us reflect for a moment again on what we have discovered about soft rain, and make the connections to our lives as Muslims, to gain some better understanding of what the Prophet was trying to teach us.

 Like the rain that has its source from above in the sky, Muslims have the source of their power above, with God. 

 Just as the rain comes pure from the sky above, the souls of humankind come pure into this earth at birth.  By keeping or by re-establishing contact with our heavenly source in the form of prayers, fasting, and other forms of purification, we can become “reborn” in a sense, re-attaining this initial state of purification through our devotion to and study of the religion. 

 As Muslims, we find ourselves in a world that is impure spiritually, and is in need of spiritual nourishment, just as the dry earth needs rain.

 As Muslims, however, we cannot be overbearing or aggressive with people.  Instead, we must be soft in our relations with people, kind and gentle and polite.  Indeed, as the analogy indicates, the most significant part of our existence as Muslims, in terms of the effect, whether positive or negative, on those around us, is our actions, the part of our being through which we meet and interact with other people.  In another narration, it is recorded that Muhammad (saws) said that he had come to mankind to perfect their manners (makarimil akhlaq).  To do this effectively, we need a connection with our source, God.

 Rain is considered a cleansing agent in Islamic law.  However, part of this process is that the sun must shine on the earth after the rain to complete the cleansing.  By the analogy, if we Muslims are the rain, the Prophet and his guidance are the sunlight which illuminates us and our work, completing it.

 We as Muslims are supposed to bring cleanness and purity to those we meet through our good manners, our good actions, and our good ways of speech, acting as an example for people me meet, drawing them toward Islam and purity, much as rain brings cleanness to what it meets.

 To be effective in this regard, we need to be immersed and well-integrated into the society.  We need to have meaningful contact with the people to be able to fulfill this duty of being agents of cleanness and purification, just as the rain must come in contact with the earth to bring nourishment and purification.

 At the same time, like the rain that is the same wherever it goes , not taking on the taste of the land on which it falls, but rather purifying the earth on which it falls, we must not be unduly influenced by the culture to which we come in service, but must try ourselves to be a positive influence.  We must do our best to move and inspire people we meet with good examples of actions and speech, while not being ourselves tainted by bad actions or speech of those we meet.

 For Muslims to work well as a society, it is necessary that the component community members must behave as the rain falls, with all the raindrops falling together in unison.  In the same way, Muslims must work together in unison to be effective.  Although by ourselves we are small, while we work together, we become very powerful.

 Let us try to learn from this parable, so as to help our community and its members to be as pleasant and beneficial and refreshing to the people as soft rain is to those stricken by drought.  May we strengthen and purify ourselves, and draw together, so that we may be like a refreshing rain shower, washing away uncleanness from our nation and raising it to its full potential.