The Book of Praying for Rain (Al-Istisqa')

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man entered the mosque on a Friday through the gate facing Dār al-Qadā’ while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing delivering the sermon. The man stood in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: O Messenger of Allah, the properties (livestock) have perished and the roads have been cut off. So supplicate Allah to send us rain. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and then said: "O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain. O Allah, send us rain." Anas said: By Allah, we could see no cloud or even a small patch of cloud in the sky, and there was not a single house or dwelling between us and (Mount) Sal‘. He said: Then, all of a sudden, a big cloud like a shield appeared from behind it and when it arrived in the middle of the sky, it spread out and rained. By Allah, we did not see the sun for a week. On Friday, a man entered through the same gate while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. The man stood in front of him and said: O Messenger of Allah, the properties have perished and the roads have been cut off. So supplicate Allah to withhold the rain. He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his hands and said: "O Allah, around us and not upon us. O Allah, on the hills, the small mountains, the valleys, and the places where trees grow." He said: The rain stopped, and we came out walking in the sunshine. Sharīk said: I asked Anas ibn Mālik: Was it the same first man? He replied: "I do not know."