Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that we set out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the expedition of Dhat al-Riqa’. During this time, a woman from among the polytheists was killed at the hands of the Muslims. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned, the husband of that woman, who was not present at the time, had arrived. He swore an oath that he would not desist from his action until he had killed and shed blood among the companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So he began to pursue the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) camped at a certain place and said: “Who will guard us?” The names of a Muhajir and an Ansari were mentioned. Both of them said: “O Messenger of Allah! We will stand guard.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Stay in front of the mountain pass.” Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The companions had camped on one side of the valley. When these two men went towards the mountain pass, the Ansari said to his Muhajir companion: “Do you prefer the first part of the night or the last, so that I may stand guard for you during that part and you may rest?” He said: “You stand guard during the first part of the night.” So the Muhajir lay down and fell asleep, and the Ansari stood and engaged in prayer. The enemy came and, seeing a man from afar, realized that he must be their guard. He shot an arrow, which struck the Ansari. He (while in prayer) pulled out the arrow and put it aside, and continued to stand in prayer. The enemy shot a second arrow, which also struck him. He pulled it out and put it aside, and remained engaged in prayer. The enemy shot a third arrow, which also struck him. He pulled it out and put it aside as well. After that, he bowed and prostrated, and (after finishing the prayer) woke up his companion and said: “Get up and sit, the enemy has come.” He quickly got up. The enemy, seeing the two men alert, realized that they were now on guard. Seeing this, he fled. The Muhajir saw the Ansari covered in blood and said: “Subhan Allah! Why did you not wake me up at the very beginning?” The Ansari said: “I had started a surah, and I did not think it appropriate to leave it incomplete. When the arrows came one after another, then I quickly bowed (and completed the prayer) and informed you. By Allah! If I had not feared neglecting the duty of guarding this side which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had assigned to me, my soul would have departed before I completed that surah.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a battle with Khasfah bin Qais bin ‘Aylan bin Ilyas bin Mudar at the place of Nakhl. Those people were always seeking an opportunity to take revenge on the Muslims. There was a man from this tribe named Ghawrath bin Harith. He suddenly approached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with a sword and said, “Who will save you from me?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Allah will save me.” So the sword fell from his hand. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) picked up the sword and said, “Now who will save you from me?” He said, “You should treat as one who, when he prevails, behaves well.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do you bear witness to the oneness of Allah?” He replied, “No, but I promise that I will neither fight you myself nor support those who fight you.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) let him go. He went back to his companions and said to them, “I am coming to you from a man who is the best among people.” Then, when the time for Zuhr or Asr prayer came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the companions in the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf). The companions were divided into two groups: one group stood facing the enemy, and the other group prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The group that prayed with him, he led them in two rak‘ahs, and after completing two rak‘ahs, they went to the place of those who were facing the enemy, and those people came and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in two rak‘ahs as well. In this way, each group performed two rak‘ahs, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed four rak‘ahs.

Salih bin Khawwat narrates from a companion who performed the prayer of fear with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of Dhat al-Riqa’. He narrated that one group formed a row with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), while the other group remained facing the enemy. Those who were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he led them in one rak’ah, then he stood for so long that those people completed the second rak’ah themselves, then they left and stood facing the enemy. The second group came and they performed the remaining rak’ah with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he remained seated until these people completed their second rak’ah (and sat in tashahhud), then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said the salam. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) says: This method of the prayer of fear is the most preferable to me.