What do I say when I hear thunder?
When you hear thunder, you can say: "Subhanalladhi yusabbihur-ra'du bi hamdihi wal-mala'ikatu min khifatih" ("Glory be to the One whom the thunder glorifies with His praise, and the angels too, out of awe of Him"). It comes from the Quran and was the habit of the companion Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr.
The words and where they come from
Subhanalladhi yusabbihur-ra'du bi hamdihi wal-mala'ikatu min khifatih.
Imam Malik reports in his Muwatta that whenever Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr heard thunder, he stopped talking and said these words. They are taken almost word for word from this verse:
This is a companion's practice rather than a direct saying of the Prophet ﷺ. Another short dua about thunder that is sometimes attributed to the Prophet ﷺ has a weak chain, so many scholars prefer the wording above. Any sincere words of glorifying Allah are also fine.
What the Prophet ﷺ did in stormy weather
He didn't treat storms as just weather. When a strong wind blew, he would say: "Allahumma inni as'aluka khayraha wa khayra ma fiha wa khayra ma ursilat bih, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ma fiha wa sharri ma ursilat bih": "O Allah, I ask You for its good, the good within it and the good it was sent with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil within it and the evil it was sent with" (Sahih Muslim 899).
When the rain finally came, his worry turned to relief. See What dua do I say when it rains?
Why thunder makes us pause
A thunderstorm is a reminder of how small we are next to Allah's power. The sunnah response isn't panic but remembrance: a short pause in your conversation, a few words of praise, and trust that He is in control. It's an easy way to turn a loud, scary moment into dhikr. See What is dhikr and how do I start?
If storms really frighten you or your kids
- Say the dua together, out loud, so children learn it early.
- Remind them the thunder is "praising Allah", which makes it feel less threatening.
- Follow normal safety advice: stay indoors, away from windows and open fields.
- If fear of storms feels overwhelming, see How do I deal with panic attacks as a Muslim?
- On hearing thunder, say "Subhanalladhi yusabbihur-ra'du bi hamdihi..."
- The wording comes from Quran 13:13 and the practice of Ibn az-Zubayr.
- For strong wind, ask Allah for its good and refuge from its harm.
- Pausing your talk to remember Allah is the heart of the sunnah.
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