the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—on Friday and said, “O Messenger of Allah! The livestock are dying, families are starving, and the people are perishing.” The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—then raised his hands in supplication, and the people raised their hands and supplicated with him….” (1)

• (5-15-4) The Prescription for the Imam to Reverse His Cloak While Supplicating for Rain:

It is prescribed for the imam to reverse his cloak while supplicating for rain, but it is not prescribed for the people praying with him to do so.

This is established by the aforementioned hadith of Aisha concerning the Prophet’s going out and leading the people in the prayer for rain. She said: “…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 and reversed—or turned—his cloak while keeping his hands raised. He then faced the people, descended, and prayed two units….” (2)

It is also established by a narration of Abū Dāwūd from the hadith of Abd Allāh ibn Zayd al-Māzinī, who said: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—went out to pray for rain. He turned his back to the people while supplicating to Allah—Glorified and Exalted—faced the qiblah, and reversed his cloak.”

Another narration states: “He reversed his cloak, placing its right side over his left shoulder and its left side over his right shoulder. He then supplicated to Allah—Glorified and Exalted.”

Another narration states: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—prayed for rain while wearing a black cloak. He intended to take its lower part and place it at the top, but when it proved too heavy, he turned it over his shoulder.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim; the wording is that of Abū Dāwūd. (3)