The Prophet (p.b.u.h) went out to offer the Istisqa’ prayer and turned (and put on) his cloak inside out.
CHAPTER 2. Invocation of the Prophet “Send (drought famine) years on them (pagans of Makka) like the (drought-famine) years of Prophet YlIsuf (Joseph).”
2:120 Narrated by Abu Huraira
Whenever the Prophet (p.b.u.h) lifted his head from the bowing in the last Raka he used to say: “O Allah! Save ‘Aiyash bin Abi Rabi’a. O Allah! Save Salama bin Hisham. O Allah! Save Walid bin Walid. O Allah! Save the weak faithful believers. O Allah! Be hard on the tribes of Mudar and send (famine) years on them like the famine years of (Prophet) Joseph .” The Prophet further said, “Allah forgive the tribes of Ghifar and save the tribes of Aslam.” Abu Az-Zinad (a sub-narrator) said, “The Qunut used to be recited by the Prophet in the Fajr prayer.”
2:121 Narrated by Masruq
We were with ‘Abdullah and he said, “When the Prophet saw the refusal of the people to accept Islam he said, “O Allah! Send (famine) years on them for (seven years) like the seven years (of famine during the time) of (Prophet) Joseph.” So famine overtook them for one year and destroyed every kind of life to such an extent that the people started eating hides, carcasses and rotten dead animals. Whenever one of them looked towards the sky, he would (imagine himself to) see smoke because of hunger. So Abu Sufyan went to the Prophet and said, “O Muhammad! You order people to obey Allah and to keep good relations with kith and kin. No doubt the people of your tribe are dying, so please pray to Allah for them.” So Allah revealed: “Then watch you For the day that The sky will bring forth a kind Of smoke Plainly visible … Verily! You will return (to disbelief) On the day when We shall seize You with a mighty grasp. (44.10-16) Ibn Masud added, “Al-Batsha (i.e. grasp) happened in the battle of Badr and no doubt smoke, Al-Batsha, Al-Lizam, and the verse of Surat Ar-Rum have all passed .
2:122 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Dinar
My father said, “I heard Ibn ‘Umar reciting the poetic verses of Abu Talib: And a white (person) (i.e. the Prophet) who is requested to pray for rain and who takes care of the orphans and is the guardian of widows.” Salim’s father (Ibn ‘Umar) said, “The following poetic verse occurred to my mind while I was looking at the face of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) while he was praying for rain. He did not get down till the rain water flowed profusely from every roof-g utter: And a white (person) who is requested to pray for rain and who takes care of the orphans and is the guardian of widows . . . And these were the words of Abu Talib.”
2:123 Narrated by Anas
Whenever drought threatened them, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, used to ask Al-Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib to invoke Allah for rain. He used to say, “O Allah! We used to ask our Prophet to invoke You for rain, and You would bless us with rain, and now we ask his uncle to invoke You for rain. O Allah ! Bless us with rain.”(1) And so it would rain.
CHAPTER 3. Istisqâ’ (i.e. to offer a two Rak’at prayer and then invoke Allah for rain) in the main mosque (of the town).
2:126 Narrated by Sharik bin ‘Abdullah bin Abi Namir
I heard Anas bin Malik saying, “On a Friday a person entered the main Mosque through the gate facing the pulpit while Allah’s Apostle was delivering the Khutba. The man stood in front of Allah’s Apostle and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! The livestock are dying and the roads are cut off; so please pray to Allah for rain.’ ” Anas added, “Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) raised both his hands and said, ‘O Allah! Bless us with rain! O Allah! Bless us with rain! O Allah! Bless us with rain!’ ” Anas added, “By Allah, we could not see any trace of cloud in the sky and there was no building or a house between us and (the mountains of) Sila.” Anas added, “A heavy cloud like a shield appeared from behind it (i.e. Sila’ Mountain). When it came in the middle of the sky, it spread and then rained.” Anas further said, “By Allah! We could not see the sun for a week. Next Friday a person entered through the same gate and at that time Allah’s Apostle was delivering the Friday’s Khutba. The man stood in front of him and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! The livestock are dying and the roads are cut off, please pray to Allah to with-hold rain.’ ” Anas added, “Allah’s Apostle I raised both his hands and said, ‘O Allah! Round about us and not on us. O Allah! On the plateaus, on the mountains, on the hills, in the valleys and on the places where trees grow.’ So the rain stopped and we came out walking in the sun.” Sharik asked Anas whether it was the same person who had asked for the rain (the last Friday). Anas replied that he did not know.
CHAPTER 4. To invoke Allah for rain in the Khutba (religious talk) of Friday facing a direction other than the Qiblah.
2:127 Narrated (Anas bin Malik)
Allah’s Messenger raised both his hands and said, “0 Allah! Bless us with rain. 0 Allah! Bless us with rain. 0 Allah! Bless us with rain”
CHAPTER 5. How the Prophet turned his back towards the people [while offering the Salât (prayer) for rain].
2:137 Narrated by Abbas bin Tamim from his uncle
“I saw the Prophet on the day when he went out to offer the Istisqa’ prayer. He turned his back towards the people and faced the Qibla and asked Allah for rain. Then he turned his cloak inside out and led us in a two Rakat prayer and recited the Qur’an aloud in them.”
CHAPTER 6. The raising of both hands by the Imâm during Istisqâ’ while invoking Allah for rain.
2:141 Narrated by Anas bin Malik
The Prophet never raised his hands for any invocation except for that of Istisqa’ and he used to raise them so much that the whiteness of his armpits became visible. (Note: It may be that Anas did not see the Prophet raising his hands, but it is narrated that the Prophet used to raise his hands for invocations other than Istisqa. See Hadith No. 807 & 808 and also see Hadith No. 612, Vol. 5).
CHAPTER 7. What should be said (or what to say) if it rains.
2:142 Narrated by Aisha
Whenever Allah’s Apostle saw the rain, he used to say, “O Allah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain.”
CHAPTER 8. If the wind blows (what should one do or say?)
2:144 Narrated by Anas
Whenever a strong wind blew, anxiety appeared on the face of the Prophet (fearing that wind might be a sign of Allah’s wrath).
CHAPTER 9. The statement of the Prophet “I was granted victory with As-Saba [easterly wind (which frightened my enemies)].’
2:145 Narrated by Ibn Abbas
The Prophet said, “I was granted victory with As-Saba and the nation of ‘Ad was destroyed by Ad-Dabur (westerly wind) .
CHAPTER 10. What is said about earthquakes and (other) signs (of the approach of the Day of Judgement).
2:147 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar
(The Prophet) said, “O Allah! Bless our Sham and our Yemen.” People said, “Our Najd as well.” The Prophet again said, “O Allah! Bless our Sham and Yemen.” They said again, “Our Najd as well.” On that the Prophet said, “There will appear earthquakes and afflictions, and from there will come out the side of the head of Satan.”
CHAPTER 11. Except Allah nobody knows when it will rain.
2:149 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar
Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, “Keys of the unseen knowledge are five which nobody knows but Allah . . . nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain.”
Books of Muslims 