Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو نَصْرِ بْنُ قَتَادَةَ أنبأ أَبُو مَنْصُورٍ النَّضْرَوِيُّ ثنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ نَجْدَةَ ثنا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ ثنا سُفْيَانُ وَهُشَيْمٌ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ قَالَ خَرَجَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ يَسْتَسْقِي فَلَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَى الِاسْتِغْفَارِ حَتَّى رَجَعَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا رَأَيْنَاكَ اسْتَسْقَيْتَ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ طَلَبْتُ الْمَطَرَ بِمَجَادِيحِ السَّمَاءِ الَّذِي يُسْتَنْزَلُ بِهِ الْمَطَرُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا} [نوح 10] {وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا} [هود 52]
English Translation
Abu Nasr ibn Qatadah narrated to us... from al-Sha'bi who said: Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) went out seeking rain, and he did nothing but seek forgiveness until he returned. He was told: 'We did not see you seek rain.' He said: 'I have sought rain with the rain-bringing stars of heaven by which rain is brought down.' Then he recited: {Seek forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send rain from the sky upon you in continuing showers} [71:10-11], and {O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send rain from the sky upon you in showers} [11:52].