It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zaid Mazni (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out for the prayer of Istisqa (prayer for rain), and he turned his cloak inside out when he faced the Qiblah.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked how many rak'ahs are in the prayer of Istisqa (prayer for rain)? He replied that there are two rak'ahs, and the Imam should first perform the prayer, then stand and deliver the sermon and supplicate facing the Qiblah. And when he turns his face towards the Qiblah, he should turn his cloak inside out, and recite aloud in both rak'ahs. And he should turn his cloak in such a way that the right side's edge comes to the left and the left side's edge comes to the right, and the followers should also turn their cloaks in the same way when the Imam does so. And they should face the Qiblah while sitting.

It is narrated from Hazrat Amr bin Shu'aib that when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed for rain, he would say: "O Allah! Give water to Your servants and animals, and spread Your mercy, and revive Your dead land."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! The animals have died and the roads are blocked, so pray to Allah. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed, and it rained from one Friday to the next Friday. Then a man came and said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! The houses have collapsed, the roads are blocked, and the animals have died. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed: "O Allah! Let it rain on the mountains, the hills, the valleys, and around the trees." Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made this supplication, the clouds parted from Madinah as an old garment is torn apart.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said that if someone misses the prayer of Istisqa but catches the sermon, then he has the choice: if he wishes, he may pray two rak‘ahs of Istisqa in the mosque, or pray them at home, or not pray at all, because the prayer of Istisqa is nafl (supererogatory).