The heavens opened over the Sepang International Circuit 45 minutes ahead of qualifying, forcing a 50-minute delay before the cars could finally take to a treacherous track.
Fortunes fluctuated over the three sessions, as did the conditions as the intensity of the rain continually forced drivers in and out of the pits as they switched from intermediate tyres to full wets.
Come the conclusion it was Hamilton who again emerged top of the pile, as was the case a fortnight ago in the season-opening race in Australia.
The rain certainly proved a leveller for although Mercedes dominated in the dry in final practice, Hamilton only just egded Red Bull's reigning champion Sebastian Vettel into second place on the grid.
Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg will start third.
After clinching the 33rd pole of his F1 career, Hamilton was relieved to again be at the front after pipping Vettel by just 0.055secs.
"I'm very happy with what the team have done," said Hamilton. "Today was incredible with all that rain before the session started, and then at the end (of qualifying) I couldn't see a thing.
"I couldn't see where the corners were, where others were on the track, so it was important to try and get a good lap in, which I had already managed to do."
Vettel also wiped sweat from his brow given his concern in Q1 when he had an issue with the energy store.
He said: "At the beginning of Q1 my heartbeat was rising quickly when we realised there was an issue. But we sorted it quickly and it was good to go out again.
"Q3 was not perfect, I'd have loved to have had another go because it was close, too close in the end.
"The margin was definitely close enough for me to have beaten him (Hamilton), but then I'm sure Lewis could have gone quicker if he'd have had another go.
"But I'm on the good side of the grid, and now we'll have to see what my start is like tomorrow."
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