416 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The people complained to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) about the lack of rain. He therefore ordered that a pulpit be set up for him in the open-air prayer ground, and he appointed a day on which the people should assemble. When the rim of the sun appeared, he came out, sat on the pulpit, pronounced the takbīr and praised Allah, then said:

‘You have complained of the barrenness of your dwellings. Allah has commanded you to call upon Him, and He has promised to answer you.’ He then recited: ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment’ [Qurʾān 1:2-4]. ‘There is no god but Allah; He does whatever He wills. O Allah, You are Allah, there is no god but You. You are the Self-Sufficient and we are the needy. Send down upon us the rain, and make what You send to us a source of strength and provision for a while.’

He then raised his hands until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen. Next he turned his back to the people and reversed his cloak while his hands were still raised; then he faced the people again, descended, and prayed two rakʿahs. Allah, Exalted is He, then produced a cloud; it thundered and flashed, and finally poured down rain.”

Reported by Abū Dāwūd, who said: “It is singular, and its chain of transmission is sound.” (1)

The account of turning the cloak is also found in the Ṣaḥīḥ in the narration of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd, which states: “He faced the qiblah and supplicated, then prayed two rakʿahs in which he recited aloud.” (2)