The fear prayer: how many rakahs it is

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the fear prayer at Dhu Qarad, in the land of Banu Sulaym. The people formed two rows behind him: one row was behind him and the other faced the enemy. He led the row behind him in one rak'ah; then these went to the place of the others and the others came to their place. Then he led them in one rak'ah.

The same is reported through another chain.

Tha'labah bin Zahdam said: We were with Sayyiduna Sa'id bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) in Tabaristan, and Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) was also with us. Sayyiduna Sa'id said: Which of you has prayed the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have. Then he led the people in prayer.
Sufyan said: He then mentioned (the same as) the hadith of Ibn Abbas and Zayd bin Thabit.

Abu al-Aliyah said: Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) was in an area of Isfahan. They did not have much fear of the enemy, but he wanted to teach the people their religion and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he formed the people into two groups: one group he stood facing the enemy with weapons, and the other group he kept behind him. He led the group behind him in one rak'ah; then they walked backwards to the place of the other group, facing the enemy. Then that group came and stood behind Sayyiduna Abu Musa, and he led this group in the second rak'ah. Then he gave the salam. Then the people who had prayed the first rak'ah and gone to face the enemy came and prayed one rak'ah, and the others also prayed one rak'ah. Then they gave the salam to one another. In this way the imam completed two rak'ahs, and each of the two groups had one rak'ah behind the imam.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the fear prayer. The people stood in two rows: one row was formed behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the other row was formed facing the enemy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led those behind him in one rak'ah. Then the second group came and stood in their place, and the group that had prayed the first rak'ah went towards the enemy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led this group in one rak'ah and then gave the salam. These people then prayed their remaining rak'ah by themselves and gave the salam. Then they went towards the enemy, and the group that was there came, prayed their one rak'ah and gave the salam.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in the fear prayer in this way: 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 the place of these people, and he led them in one rak'ah and gave the salam. In this way the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had two rak'ahs, and each of the two groups had one rak'ah.

Mujahid said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at Usfan and the idolaters were at Dajnan. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Zuhr, the idolaters saw him bowing and prostrating, and they resolved to attack them. Then, when the time of Asr came, he formed the people into two rows behind him. When he said takbir, everyone said takbir; when he bowed, everyone bowed; when he prostrated, the row directly behind him prostrated, while the people of the second row stood holding their weapons, facing the enemy. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head from prostration, the second row prostrated. When they raised their heads from prostration, he (peace and blessings be upon him) bowed, and all the people bowed too. Then he prostrated and the row directly behind him prostrated, while the people of the second row stood facing the enemy holding their weapons. When he raised his head from prostration, the people of the second row prostrated. Mujahid said: The people were together in the takbir, the bowing and the salam, and took turns in the prostrations. Mujahid said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never prayed the fear prayer before that day nor after it.

The same is reported through another chain.

The same is reported through another chain with somewhat different wording, and in it there is the addition: "as these guards of yours do with their commanders."

Sa'id bin Jubayr said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the Companions in two rak'ahs in the fear prayer, in this way: he prayed two rak'ahs and the people one each.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The fear prayer is one rak'ah each.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: According to the word of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah Almighty made obligatory four rak'ahs for the prayer when resident and two rak'ahs for the prayer when travelling, and made one rak'ah obligatory for fear.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: According to the word of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah Almighty made obligatory four rak'ahs for the prayer when resident and two rak'ahs for the prayer when travelling, and made one rak'ah obligatory for fear.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: One day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the fear prayer. One group stood with him and one group faced the enemy. The group that was with him prayed one rak'ah, then went off towards the enemy. Then the other group came and he led them in one rak'ah. Then both groups afterwards made up one rak'ah each. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: If the fear of the enemy is even greater than that, then pray by gestures, standing or riding.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I prayed the fear prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) two rak'ahs at a time, except for Maghrib, in which he led three rak'ahs.

Al-Hasan was asked about the fear prayer, and he said: I was told from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led his Companions in the fear prayer in this way: he led one group in prayer while one group stood facing the enemy. He led the group behind him in two rak'ahs; then this group went off towards the enemy, and the other group came and prayed two rak'ahs behind him. Then he gave the salam.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We were coming along with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and when we reached Dhat al-Riqa', the call to prayer was given. He led one group in two rak'ahs, then that group moved back, and he led the other group in two rak'ahs. Thus the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had four rak'ahs and each of the two groups two rak'ahs.

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The fear prayer is two rak'ahs and four prostrations. If the enemy is hastening to fight, then talking and fighting between the two rak'ahs are lawful for you.

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If you are being attacked, then talking and fighting in the prayer are lawful.

Al-Hasan said: Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) led his companions in the fear prayer in Isfahan in this way: one group stood with him and the other stood facing the enemy. He led them in one rak'ah, and that group went off towards the enemy. Then the other group came and he led them in one rak'ah and gave the salam. Then both groups each prayed one rak'ah on their own.

Abu al-Zubayr said: Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about the fear prayer, and he said: "Just as these commanders of yours do today."

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyash al-Zuraqi (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was facing the enemy in battle at Usfan, and the polytheists were at that time led by Khalid bin al-Walid. He (peace and blessings be upon him) led his companions in the Zuhr prayer, and the polytheists said: "After this they have another prayer that is dearer to them than their wealth and their children." Then he arranged the people behind him in two rows. When he bowed, all the people bowed with him. When the people raised their heads from bowing, the row next to him prostrated while the people of the other row remained standing; when the first row raised their heads from prostration, the rear row then prostrated, on account of having bowed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the front row moved back and the rear row came forward, so as to bow with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the front row moved back and the rear row came forward, and each of them stood in the other's place. Then he bowed, and the others remained standing; when they had finished their prostration, the others prostrated. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the salam to them all.

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Abi Hathmah (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the fear prayer: The imam will stand facing the qiblah, and one group will pray with him while the other group stands facing the enemy. He will lead this group in one rak'ah. When he stands for the second rak'ah, he should remain standing until the group behind him prays its one rak'ah on its own, prostrates and gives the salam. Then these people will go towards the enemy, and the group that was already facing the enemy should come and stand behind the imam; the imam should lead them in one rak'ah and give the salam. Then those behind him should bow on their own, prostrate and give the salam.

Sa'id bin Jubayr said: How can the fear prayer be shortened to one rak'ah? It is two rak'ahs!

Masruq said: In the fear prayer, the imam will stand and the people will form two rows behind him. Then the imam will bow, and the people of the row behind him will also bow. Then the imam will prostrate, and the people of the row with him will also prostrate. Then when the imam stands for the second rak'ah, the people of this row will move back, and the people of the other group will come and stand in their place. The imam will bow and prostrate with them, while the others remain standing. Then these will stand and make up one rak'ah each. In this way the imam will have two rak'ahs in congregation and the people one rak'ah each, then they will make up the second rak'ah.

The same is reported through another chain.