• (4-15-4) The Manner of Going Out to the Prayer Ground, and the Supplication and Address before the Prayer for Rain:

The Sunnah when going out for the prayer for rain is to be plainly dressed (1), humble (2), earnest in supplication (3), and submissive and manifestly needy before Allah (4). One should call upon Allah—Glorified and Exalted—ask Him, pray for rain, proclaim His greatness, and praise Him.

The imam should raise his hands, and the people should likewise raise their hands in supplication.

It is prescribed for the imam to raise his hands especially high when praying for rain, until the whiteness of his armpits becomes visible.

It is also prescribed for the imam, upon going out to the prayer ground, to address the people, remind them of their need for rain, direct them to supplicate, offer supplication himself, and face the qiblah.

No other form of sermon besides that described above is prescribed.

The evidence for this is as follows:

The preceding hadith of Ibn Abbās states: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—went out dressed plainly, displaying humility and beseeching Allah, until he reached the prayer ground. He then ascended the pulpit. He did not deliver the kind of sermon that you do; rather, he continued supplicating, beseeching Allah, and proclaiming His greatness. He then performed two rakahs ...” Reported by Abū Dāwūd. (5)