Chapter on the Prayer for Seeking Rain

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar from Muhammad ibn Isa, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Hammad al-Sarraj: Muhammad ibn Khalid sent me to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, to ask Imam عليه السلام: “The people have persistently asked me regarding seeking rain (istisqa), what is your opinion about going out tomorrow (to seek rain)?” So I conveyed this to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him. Imam عليه السلام said: “Say to him (ibn Khalid); This is not how istisqa is to be done. Say to him (ibn Khalid); He should go out and deliver a sermon to the people and command them to fast today and tomorrow and then on the third day, he should go out with them, while they are fasting.” He (al-Sarraj) said: “So I went to Muhammad (ibn Khalid) and informed him of the words of Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him. So he (ibn Khalid) went and delivered a sermon to the people and commanded them to fast, just as Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, had said. Then, on the third day, he (ibn Khalid) sent to Imam عليه السلام asking: “What is your opinion about going out (today)?”