Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid, who is a companion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), that he saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day when he went out for Istisqa (prayer for rain). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his back towards the people and faced the Qiblah and supplicated. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his cloak inside out. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led two units of prayer and recited aloud in those units. And it is mentioned as the saying of (Imam) Abu Hanifa that: The prayer of Istisqa should not be performed in congregation, nor should there be a sermon in it.