Method of Salat al-Khawf (Prayer during times of fear)
The prayer performed in a state of fear is called صلاة خوف.
That is, when the army of Islam faces the army of disbelievers but the two sides have not yet engaged in battle, and if both armies are entangled and have started fighting, then the prayer is valid in every possible situation, as will be explained later.
Legitimacy: Allah Almighty says:
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيْهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ ……. الخ
“When you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand with you, armed. Then when they prostrate, let them withdraw and let the other group come forward, who have not yet prayed, and pray with you while they keep their weapons ready.”
There is consensus among the Companions on the legitimacy of the prayer of fear.
(The Majority) Most scholars also hold the view that the prayer of fear is still legitimate today as it was in the Prophetic era.
(Abu Yusuf رضي الله عنه) The prayer of fear was specific only to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
(Refer) The majority view is stronger.
Scholars have differed regarding performing the prayer of fear in a settled place.
(The Majority, Abu Hanifa رضي الله عنه, Ahmad رضي الله عنه, Shafi’i رضي الله عنه) It is permissible to perform the prayer of fear both while traveling and in a settled place.
(Malik رضي الله عنه) Travel is a condition for the prayer of fear.
(Refer) The first view is stronger.
There is disagreement about the number of methods for the prayer of fear. Ibn Qassar al-Maliki رضي الله عنه mentioned ten, Imam Nawawi رضي الله عنه mentioned sixteen, and Imam Ibn Qayyim رضي الله عنه mentioned six (main methods). Hafiz Ibn Hajar رضي الله عنه considered Imam Ibn Qayyim’s statement reliable. Besides these, some have mentioned seventeen, eighteen, and other varying numbers of methods.
Some of the authentic and established methods are as follows:
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه that “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made each group pray two rak‘ahs, so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed four rak‘ahs and the people prayed two.”
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه that “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made each group pray one rak‘ah.” That is, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed two rak‘ahs and the people prayed one.”
➌ Hazrat Salih bin Khawwat رضي الله عنه narrated from a Companion of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that “One group lined up with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and another group lined up facing the enemy. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed one rak‘ah with those who lined up with him and stood straight. They completed the rest of the prayer on their own and left to line up in front of the enemy. Then the second group came, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed the remaining one rak‘ah with them and sat down. They completed the prayer on their own during this time, then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم concluded the prayer with salam.”
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that “One group stood with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to pray and another group lined up facing the enemy. The group praying with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed one bow and two prostrations with him, then withdrew to the place of the group that had not yet prayed. That group came, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed one rak‘ah with them including two prostrations. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم concluded the prayer with salam, but both groups stood up and completed their rak‘ahs separately.”
➎ Another method narrated from Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه is that “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led both groups in prayer together. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said takbir, they also said takbir; when he bowed, they bowed; when he raised his head, they raised their heads; then when he prostrated, the group near the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prostrated with him while the other group stood facing the enemy. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his close group completed the prostration, the other group prostrated. Then the first group stepped back and the second group came forward. They did the same as the first group had done. Finally, both groups concluded the prayer together with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.”
➏ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that “One group stood with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and another group stood facing the enemy, their backs towards the Qiblah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said takbir, and those with him and those facing the enemy said takbir together. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم bowed, and those with him bowed, and similarly prostrated, while the other group remained standing facing the enemy. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood up, and those near him also stood and faced the enemy, while the group that was initially facing the enemy came behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and performed bowing and prostrations. During this time, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم remained standing. Then when they stood up, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم bowed and they bowed with him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prostrated and they prostrated with him. Then the group facing the enemy came and performed bowing and prostrations, while the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his close group remained seated. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم concluded the prayer with salam, and all of them said salam together. Thus, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed two rak‘ahs and each group also prayed two rak‘ahs.”
All these methods are economical.
Because all these methods are proven from the Prophet ﷺ, and every action proven from the Prophet ﷺ’s practice is permissible, therefore, according to convenience and necessity, if any one of these is adopted, it will certainly be sufficient.
(Ahmad) It is permissible for a person to adopt any of these methods.
(Nawawi) All these methods are permissible.
(Khitabi) Any method that is more cautious for prayer and more beneficial for guarding can be adopted.
(Shawkani) The one who prays can adopt any of these methods and it will suffice.
(Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri) is of the same opinion.
(Siddiq Hasan Khan) prefers this.
If it is asked what is ultimately the wisdom behind praying with different methods, then two points emerge:
1. Considering the different circumstances and the increase or decrease of fear and incidents, some methods of prayer were more beneficial than others, so they were adopted.
2. The Prophet ﷺ prayed in these different ways so that people would know that all these methods are legally valid.
And when fear intensifies and a fierce battle begins, whether on foot or horseback, one should perform the prayer in any condition, even if one is not facing the Qibla and even if it is performed by gestures only.
➊ The command of Allah Almighty is:
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أو رُكْبَانًا
“If you fear (attack), then pray on foot or riding (whichever is possible).”
➋ Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) after explaining the method of Salat al-Khawf (prayer of fear) says:
فإن كان خوف هو أشد من ذلك صلوا رجالا قياما على أقدامهم أور كبانا مستقبل القبلة أو غير مستقبليها
“If the fear is more intense, then stand on your feet if on foot, or while riding (in the same condition), face the Qiblah or any other direction (whichever is possible) and pray.”
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Nafi (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I think that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated this from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).”
➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
فإن كان خوف أشد من ذلك فرجالا أو ركبانا
“If the fear is even more severe, then pray on foot or riding (whichever is possible).”
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Anis (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent me to kill Khalid bin Sufyan Hudhali. When I saw him, the time for Asr prayer had come. I feared that something might come between me and him which would delay the prayer, so I started walking and began praying by gestures. When I approached him, he said, “Who are you?” etc.
Although this hadith is weak, the point of evidence “praying by gestures during fear” is established by previous authentic hadiths, as when on foot or riding, a person certainly prays by gestures.
One objection and its answer:
If someone says, despite this concession, why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the companions pray all four prayers together at night on the day of the Battle of the Trench?
The answer is that in the hadith of Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), this matter (i.e., the Prophet (peace be upon him) and companions combining prayers later during the Battle of the Trench) occurred before the revelation of Allah’s command:
فرجالا اور كبانا
“Pray on foot or riding.”
And in that hadith these words are present:
وذلك قبل أن ينزل فى القتال ما نزل
“This is an event that happened before the revelation concerning fighting was revealed.”
