pray for rain like this—meaning that he stretched out his hands and turned their palms toward the ground—until I could see the whiteness of his armpits.” This is raising the hands above the head, the earnest supplication mentioned in the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbās. One form of this raising above the head places the hands toward the sky, since, when they are fully raised, their palms cannot face skyward.

The third point is that he forbade looking upward during prayer, enjoining the humble devotion for which Allah praised those who possess it, saying:

“Successful indeed are the believers {1}, those who are humbly devoted in their prayers {2}.” [al-Mu’minūn 1–2]

He also says:

“Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is burdensome except for the humbly devout {45}.” [al-Baqarah 45]

Humble devotion is accompanied by a lowered gaze, as Allah Most High says:

“On the Day when the shin will be laid bare and they will be called to prostrate, but will be unable to do so {42}, their eyes downcast, humiliation overwhelming them. They had been called to prostrate while they were still sound and able {43}.” [al-Qalam 42–43]

Allah Most High also says:

“On the Day they emerge from their graves in haste, as though rushing toward an idol {43}, their eyes downcast, humiliation overwhelming them. That is the Day they were promised {44}.” [al-Ma‘ārij 43–44]

He also says:

“So turn away from them. On the Day the caller calls to something dreadful {6}, their eyes downcast, they will emerge from their graves like scattered locusts {7}, hastening toward the caller. The disbelievers will say, ‘This is a difficult day’ {8}.” [al-Qamar 6–8], just as