Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the prayer of fear in the land of Banu Sulaym at Dhi Qarad. The people formed two rows behind him: one row was behind him and the other was in front of the enemy. He led the row behind him in one rak‘ah, then they moved to the place of the others and the others came to their place. Then he led them in one rak‘ah.

It is narrated similarly through another chain.

Hazrat Thalabah bin Zahdam narrates that we were in Tabaristan with Hazrat Saeed bin Aas, and Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) was also with us. Hazrat Saeed asked, "Who among you has performed the prayer of fear with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I have." Then he led the people in prayer.

Hazrat Abu Alia narrates that Hazrat Abu Musa Ashari was in a region of Isfahan. He did not have much fear of the enemy, but he wanted to teach the people about religion and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he formed two groups of people: he made one group stand armed in front of the enemy, and kept the other group behind him. He led the group behind him in one rak‘ah (unit of prayer), then he, walking backwards, went to the place of the other group in front of the enemy. Then that group came and stood behind Hazrat Abu Musa, and he led this group in the second rak‘ah. Then he said the salam (ending the prayer). Then those who had performed the first rak‘ah and gone to stand before the enemy came and performed one rak‘ah, and the others also performed one rak‘ah. Then they exchanged salam with each other. In this way, the imam completed two rak‘ahs, and both groups performed one rak‘ah each behind the imam.

Hazrat Abdullah narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the prayer of fear. The people stood in two rows: one row was formed behind the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the other row stood facing the enemy. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led those behind him in one rak‘ah, then the second group came and took their place. The group that had performed the first rak‘ah went towards the enemy. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led this group in one rak‘ah and then concluded the prayer with salam. These people completed their remaining rak‘ah themselves and then concluded with salam. Then they went towards the enemy, and the group present there came and completed their remaining rak‘ah and then concluded with salam.

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in the prayer of fear in such a way that one row stood in front of him and one row behind him. He led the group behind him in one rak'ah, then the group facing the enemy came and stood in their place, then he led them in one rak'ah and said salam. In this way, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed two rak'ahs and each of the two groups performed one each.

Hazrat Mujahid narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at Usfan and the polytheists were at Dajnan. When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the Zuhr prayer, the polytheists saw him bowing and prostrating and intended to attack them. Then, when the time for Asr came, he arranged two rows of people behind him. When he said the takbir, everyone said the takbir; when he bowed, everyone bowed; when he prostrated, the row behind him prostrated, and the people in the second row stood facing the enemy with their weapons. When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head from prostration, the second row prostrated. When they raised their heads from prostration, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) bowed again and all the people bowed. Then he prostrated, and the row behind him prostrated, and the people in the second row stood facing the enemy with their weapons. When he raised his head from prostration, the people in the second row prostrated. Hazrat Mujahid says that the people were together in takbir, bowing, and salam, and in prostrations they were alternately ahead and behind. Hazrat Mujahid says that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) neither performed the prayer of fear before this nor after this.

The same is narrated through another chain.

The same is narrated with slightly different words through another chain of transmission.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the companions in the prayer of fear with two rak‘ahs, in such a manner that he (the Prophet) performed two rak‘ahs and the people performed one each.

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prayer of fear consists of one rak'ah each.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that according to the saying of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah Almighty has made four rak'ahs obligatory in the prayer of residence, two rak'ahs obligatory in the prayer of travel, and one rak'ah obligatory in the prayer of fear.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that according to the saying of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah Almighty has made four rak'ahs obligatory in the prayer of residence, two rak'ahs obligatory in the prayer of travel, and one rak'ah obligatory in the prayer of fear.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once led the prayer of fear. One group stood with him and another group faced the enemy. The group present with him performed one rak‘ah, then went towards the enemy. Then the second group came and he led them in one rak‘ah. Afterwards, both groups made up one rak‘ah each. Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that if the fear of the enemy is even greater than this, then perform the prayer by gesture, standing or riding.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I have performed two rak'ahs of the fear prayer with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), except in Maghrib, where he led three rak'ahs.

Hasan was asked about the prayer of fear, so he said that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, led his companions in the prayer of fear in such a way that one group he led in prayer, while another group stood facing the enemy. He led the group behind him in two units of prayer, then this group went towards the enemy and the other group came and prayed two units behind him, then he concluded the prayer with salam.

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah narrates that we were coming with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when we reached the place of Dhat al-Riqa, the call to prayer was given. The Prophet led one group in two rak'ahs, then that group moved back and he led the second group in two rak'ahs. In this way, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed four rak'ahs and both groups performed two rak'ahs each.

Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the prayer of fear consists of two rak‘ahs and four prostrations. If the enemy is hastening for battle, then it is permissible for you to talk and fight between the two rak‘ahs.

Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that if you are under attack, then speaking and fighting during prayer is permissible.

Hasan narrates that Hazrat Abu Musa led his companions in the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf) in Isfahan in such a way that one group stood with him while the other faced the enemy. He led them in one rak'ah, after which that group went towards the enemy. Then the second group came, and he led them in one rak'ah and concluded the prayer with salam. Then both groups completed one rak'ah each on their own.

Hazrat Abu Zubair says that Hazrat Jabir was asked about the prayer of fear, so he replied, "In the manner that your leaders perform it today."

Hazrat Abu Ayash Zarqi narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was engaged in battle with the enemy at Usfan. At that time, the leadership of the polytheists was with Hazrat Khalid bin Walid. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led his companions in the Zuhr prayer, so the polytheists said that after this, they have another prayer which is more beloved to them than their wealth and children. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed of their intention, he divided the people behind him into two rows. Thus, when he bowed (in ruku‘), all the people bowed with him. When the people raised their heads from ruku‘, the row closest to him performed prostration (sajdah) while the other row remained standing. When the first row raised their heads from prostration, then, because they had already bowed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), now they performed prostration. Then the front row moved to the back and the back row came forward so that they could bow with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the back row moved back and the front row came forward, and each stood in the place of the other. When they finished their prostration, the second group performed prostration. Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said salam to everyone.

Hazrat Sahl bin Abi Hathmah, regarding the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf), says that the Imam will stand facing the Qiblah and a group will pray with him, while the other group will stand facing the enemy. He will lead this group in one rak'ah. When he stands for the second rak'ah, he will remain standing until the group behind him completes their one rak'ah, performs sajdah, and says salam. Then these people will go towards the enemy, and the group already present with the enemy will come and stand behind the Imam. The Imam will lead them in one rak'ah and then say salam. After that, these people themselves will perform ruku', sajdah, and say salam.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair says: How can there be shortening (qasr) of one rak'ah in the prayer of fear? These are two rak'ahs!

Hazrat Masruq narrates that in the prayer of fear, the Imam will stand and the people will form two rows behind him. Then the Imam will perform ruku and the people in the row behind him will also perform ruku. Then the Imam will perform sajdah and the people in the row with him will also perform sajdah. Then when the Imam stands for the second rak'ah, the people of this row will move back and the second group will come and stand in their place. The Imam will perform ruku and sajdah with them. The other people will remain standing, then they will stand and make up one rak'ah each, thus in the congregation the Imam will have two rak'ahs and the people will have one rak'ah each, then they will make up the second rak'ah.

It is narrated similarly through another chain.