Also, in the hadith of Aisha, she said: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—went out when the rim of the sun appeared and sat upon the pulpit. He—peace and blessings be upon him—proclaimed Allah’s greatness and praised Allah—Glorified and Exalted—then said: ‘You have complained of drought in your lands and of the rain being delayed beyond its proper season. Allah—Glorified and Exalted—has commanded you to call upon Him and has promised to answer you.’ He then said: ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. There is no deity except Allah; He does whatever He wills. O Allah, You are Allah; there is no deity except You. You are the Self-Sufficient, while we are the needy. Send down rain upon us, and make what You send down a source of strength and sufficient provision for a time.’ He then raised his hands and kept them raised until the whiteness of his armpits became visible. He then turned his back to the people…” Reported by Abū Dāwūd. (1)

Abd Allāh ibn Zayd al-Ansārī reported: “The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—went out with the people to pray for rain on their behalf. He stood and supplicated Allah while standing, then faced the qiblah and reversed his cloak, whereupon they were given rain.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. (2)

Anas reported: “The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would not raise his hands during any of his supplications except when praying for rain; then he would raise them so high that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. (3)

Al-Bukhārī gave the chapter heading: “The People Raising Their Hands with the Imam during the Prayer for Rain,” and cited without a complete chain of transmission a report from Anas ibn Mālik, who said: “A Bedouin man from among the desert people came to