Al-Lu'lu Wal-Marjan 517 — The Book of Salât Al-Istisqâ [i.e. to offer a two Rak'a prayer and then to invoke Allâh for rain at times of draught]

Anas bin Malik Narrated from:

Once, in the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the people were afflicted with drought. While the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was delivering the Khutba (religious talk) on a Friday, a bedouin stood up and said, "O Allâh's Messenger! Our possessions are being destroyed and the children are hungry; please invoke Allâh (for rain)". So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم raised his hands (invoked Allâh for rain).At that time there was not a trace of cloud in the sky. By Him, in Whose Hands my soul is, as soon as he lowered his hands, clouds gathered like mountains, and before he got down from the pulpit, I saw the rain falling on the beard of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. It rained that day, the next day, the third day, the fourth day till the next Friday.The same bedouin or another man stood up and said, "O, Allâh's Messenger! The houses have collapsed, our possessions and livestock have been drowned; please invoke Allâh for us (to stop the rain).” So the Prophet ﷺ raised both his hands and said, “O Allâh! Round about us and not on us.” So, in whatever direction he pointed with his hands, the clouds dispersed and cleared away, and Al-Madîna’s (sky) became clear as a hole in between the clouds. The valley of Qanât remained flooded and went on flowing for one month, none came from outside but talked about the abundant rain.( Sahîh Al-Bukhârî, Hadîth No. 55, Vol. 2)