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).