~18 AH · 18 AH
In the 18th year of the Hijrah there was a great drought, and people were dying of thirst. Umar ibn al-Khattab RA gathered the Muslims to perform Salat al-Istisqa', the prayer for rain. At the end of his khutbah (sermon), he called on al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib RA, the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ. Umar RA said that they used to approach Allah through the Prophet ﷺ, and now they would do so through his uncle. He asked al-Abbas to stand and make du'a (supplication) for rain on behalf of the whole community. This was tawassul, which here means asking a righteous person to make du'a for you.
Despite the presence of many senior sahaba, including veterans of Badr, Umar RA singled out al-Abbas RA for this honor, reflecting the immense respect the companions held for him as the Prophet ﷺ's last surviving paternal uncle.
Other events recorded in 18 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
O Allah, we used to go through the Prophet ﷺ to get to you. And now we will do tawassul through the uncle of Your Prophet ﷺ. Stand up, O Abbas, and make du'a for us.
The close of Umar's khutbah at Salat al-Istisqa' during the drought of 18 AH.