سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 239
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿239﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salât (pray) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the Salât (prayer) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِنْ
fa-in
And if
خِفْتُمْ
khif'tum
you fear
فَرِجَالًا
farijālan
then (pray) on foot
أَوْ
aw
or
رُكْبَانًۭا ۖ
ruk'bānan
riding
فَإِذَآ
fa-idhā
Then when
أَمِنتُمْ
amintum
you are secure
فَٱذْكُرُوا۟
fa-udh'kurū
then remember
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَمَا
kamā
as
عَلَّمَكُم
ʿallamakum
He (has) taught you
مَّا
mā
what
لَمْ
lam
not
تَكُونُوا۟
takūnū
you were
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
knowing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
239. If you are in a state of fear, then pray on foot or while riding [335] (in whatever way possible). But when you are safe, remember Allah in the manner He has taught you, which you did not know before [336].
[335]
The Method of Performing Salat al-Khawf (Prayer in Fear):
When someone would ask Abdullah bin Umar ؓ how to perform the Salat al-Khawf, he would say that the Imam should step forward and some people should pray one rak'ah with him, while the rest should stand between them and the enemy. They should not pray. When those who prayed with the Imam have completed one rak‘ah, they should move back, and those who have not prayed should come forward and perform one rak‘ah with the Imam. The Imam would then have completed his (two rak‘ahs) prayer. Now, both groups should complete their remaining one rak‘ah each in turn, so that they too complete two rak‘ahs. And if the fear is even greater, then they may pray standing on foot or mounted, facing the qiblah or any other direction. Imam Malik says that Nafi‘ reported that Abdullah bin Umar ؓ narrated this from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير]
[336] That is, when the state of fear ends, then perform the prayer completely and in congregation, as you do in normal circumstances. (For details on prayers during travel and fear, see the commentary on Surah An-Nisa, verses 101 and 102, footnotes 138 and 139.)
[335]
The Method of Performing Salat al-Khawf (Prayer in Fear):
When someone would ask Abdullah bin Umar ؓ how to perform the Salat al-Khawf, he would say that the Imam should step forward and some people should pray one rak'ah with him, while the rest should stand between them and the enemy. They should not pray. When those who prayed with the Imam have completed one rak‘ah, they should move back, and those who have not prayed should come forward and perform one rak‘ah with the Imam. The Imam would then have completed his (two rak‘ahs) prayer. Now, both groups should complete their remaining one rak‘ah each in turn, so that they too complete two rak‘ahs. And if the fear is even greater, then they may pray standing on foot or mounted, facing the qiblah or any other direction. Imam Malik says that Nafi‘ reported that Abdullah bin Umar ؓ narrated this from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير]
[336] That is, when the state of fear ends, then perform the prayer completely and in congregation, as you do in normal circumstances. (For details on prayers during travel and fear, see the commentary on Surah An-Nisa, verses 101 and 102, footnotes 138 and 139.)
