Hadith 1237

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ " صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ فِي خَوْفٍ فَجَعَلَهُمْ خَلْفَهُ صَفَّيْنِ ، فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُ رَكْعَةً ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ قَائِمًا حَتَّى صَلَّى الَّذِينَ خَلْفَهُمْ رَكْعَةً ، ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمُوا وَتَأَخَّرَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قُدَّامَهُمْ فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَكْعَةً ، ثُمَّ قَعَدَ حَتَّى صَلَّى الَّذِينَ تَخَلَّفُوا رَكْعَةً ، ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ".
Narrated Sahl bin Abi Hathmah: The Prophet ﷺ prayed in time of danger and divided them (the people) behind him in two rows. He then led those who were near him in one rak'ah. Then he stood and remained standing till those who were in second row offered one rak'ah. Thereafter they came forward and those who were in front of them (in the first row) stepped backward. The Prophet ﷺ led them in one rak'ah of prayer. He sat down till those who were in the second row completed on rak'ah. He then uttered the salutation.
Hadith Reference سنن ابي داود / كتاب صلاة السفر / 1237
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: صحيح بخاري (4131) صحيح مسلم (841)
Hadith Takhrij « صحیح البخاری/المغازي 32 (4131)، صحیح مسلم/المسافرین 57 (841و842)، سنن الترمذی/الصلاة 281 (الجمعة 46) (566)، سنن النسائی/صلاة الخوف (1537)، سنن ابن ماجہ/إقامة الصلاة 151 (1259)، (تحفة الأشراف: 4645)، وقد أخرجہ: موطا امام مالک/الصلاة 1 (2)، مسند احمد (3/448)، سنن الدارمی/الصلاة 185(1563) (صحیح) »
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
1537. Commentary:

➊ The situation described in Hadith number 1535 and 1536 will occur when the enemy is in the direction of the qiblah. At that time, even while standing behind the imam, it is possible to keep an eye on the enemy. However, if the fear is greater, then one may act upon Hadith 1535, and if the fear is less, then one may act upon Hadith number 1536. The mentioned hadith (1537) will be applicable when the enemy is not in the direction of the qiblah, and it is not possible to keep an eye on him while standing behind the imam. At that time, the congregation will be divided into two groups: one group will stand behind the imam and the other will stand facing the enemy, and they will perform the prayer according to the described method.

➋ In this hadith, the detail of performing one rak‘ah individually has been mentioned. One method is that the second group, after the imam completes the prayer with salam, should perform one rak‘ah on their own and then say salam, after which they go to face the enemy, and the first group returns and performs their one rak‘ah on their own. This method is more appropriate because in this way, both rak‘ahs of the second group are performed together. The second method is that the second group prays one rak‘ah with the imam and then leaves, and the first group comes and performs one rak‘ah on their own, then they leave and the second group comes and performs their rak‘ah. This method is also mentioned in some ahadith.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 1537