Similarly, Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) performed Prayer for Rain for his people many times, and in many ways. In addition, Muslim scholars unanimously agree on the legality of such an act.
The Prayer for Rain is ordained during times of drought and times when rain fails, which causes harm to people. Then there is no way out except by supplicating their Lord and asking Him for water (rain).
Furthermore, it may be by invoking Allah after performing prayers, or by supplicating Him in seclusions with neither prayer nor sermon. All such acts are related about the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
In most cases, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) delivered the sermon after performing the Prayer for Rain, and Muslims acted according to this. However, it is related that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) delivered the sermon before performing the prayer. This is the view of some scholars, but the first view (delivering the sermon after performing prayer) is more preponderant; and Allah knows best.
Moreover, the imam should supplicate Allah, Exalted be He, with much invocation, asking for rain. When supplicating Allah, the imam should raise his hands, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to raise his hands when invoking Allah in the Prayer for Rain, so much that the whiteness of his armpits became visible.
The imam should also confer blessings upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), as this is a cause for (Allah) answering his supplication. He may invoke Allah with the supplication related about the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in such situations, as a means of following him. In this regard, Allah, Exalted be He, says:
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