and some scholars have adopted that view. Even so, the first opinion is the stronger one, and Allah knows best.

During the sermon for the rain-seeking prayer, the preacher should give abundant place to istighfār (seeking forgiveness) and to the recitation of verses that command it, for this is a cause for rain to descend. He should intensify his supplications for rain, raising his hands—for the Prophet ﷺ would raise his hands in the istisqāʾ supplication until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen. He should also invoke blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, for that enhances the likelihood of a response, and he should use the very supplications transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ for this occasion, following his example. Allah the Exalted says: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day” (33:21).

It is recommended that at the end of the supplication he face the qiblah (direction of prayer) and turn his cloak inside out, putting what was on the right over the left and what was on the left over the right; the same applies to any garment resembling a cloak, such as a mantle. This is based on the report in the two Ṣaḥīḥs: “The Prophet ﷺ turned the people around so that their backs were toward him, faced the qiblah and prayed, and then inverted his cloak….”

The wisdom behind this practice—Allah knows best—is to express hopeful optimism that the present circumstances will be transformed from hardship to relief.