Today is 1st Dhul Qa’dah 1444AH (21 May 2023)
Commentary of the Qur’an (According to Sunnah) … contd
Narrated Nafi`:
Whenever `Abdullah bin `Umar was asked about Salat-al-Khauf (i.e. prayer of fear) he said, “The Imam comes forward with a group of people and leads them in a one rak`a prayer while another group from them who has not prayed yet, stay between the praying group and the enemy. When those who are with the Imam have finished their one rak`a, they retreat and take the positions of those who have not prayed but they will not finish their prayers with Taslim. Those who have not prayed, come forward to offer a rak`a with the Imam (while the first group covers them from the enemy). Then the Imam, having offered two rak`at, finishes his prayer. Then each member of the two groups offer the second rak`a alone after the Imam has finished his prayer. Thus each one of the two groups will have offered two rak`at. But if the fear is too great, they can pray standing on their feet or riding on their mounts, facing the Qibla or not.” Nafi` added: I do not think that `Abdullah bin `Umar narrated this except from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ كَانَ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْخَوْفِ قَالَ يَتَقَدَّمُ الإِمَامُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمِ الإِمَامُ رَكْعَةً، وَتَكُونُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْعَدُوِّ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا، فَإِذَا صَلَّوُا الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً اسْتَأْخَرُوا مَكَانَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا وَلاَ يُسَلِّمُونَ، وَيَتَقَدَّمُ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَيُصَلُّونَ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً، ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ الإِمَامُ وَقَدْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَيَقُومُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ فَيُصَلُّونَ لأَنْفُسِهِمْ رَكْعَةً بَعْدَ أَنْ يَنْصَرِفَ الإِمَامُ، فَيَكُونُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ قَدْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ خَوْفٌ هُوَ أَشَدَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ صَلَّوْا رِجَالاً، قِيَامًا عَلَى أَقْدَامِهِمْ، أَوْ رُكْبَانًا مُسْتَقْبِلِي الْقِبْلَةِ أَوْ غَيْرَ مُسْتَقْبِلِيهَا. قَالَ مَالِكٌ قَالَ نَافِعٌ لاَ أُرَى عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
Sahih al-Bukhari 4535
NOTES 📝
1. Imam Al-Bukhari collected this hadith under the chapter heading ” And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, ….” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2, ayah 239). See also Surah al-Nisa’, 4, ayah 102 for description of “The Fear Prayer”.
2. In a similar hadith collected by al-Bukhari, Salih Khawwat or Sahl bin Abu Hathmah narrated concerning those who witnessed the Fear Prayer that was performed in the battle of Dhat-ur-Riqa’ in the company of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ : One batch lined up behind him while another batch (lined up) facing the enemy. The Prophet (ﷺ) led the batch that was with him in one Rak’ah, and he stayed in the standing posture while that batch completed their (two Rak’at) prayer by themselves and went away, lining in the face of the enemy, while the other batch came and he (i.e. the Prophet ) offered his remaining Rak’ah with them, and then, kept on sitting till they completed their prayer by themselves, and he then finished his prayer with Taslim along with them.
3. Scholars such as Imam Ahmad, Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Al-Hajar have opined that there are 6 to 7 ways of observing the Fear Prayer depending on the severity of fear and position of the threat with respect to the Qiblah. Also, the above ayah and ahadith are some of evidences that emphasize the importance of observing the orayer at its right time such that it is not even excused at the times of fear and war. No Muslim therefore have excuse for skipping prayer at its right time.
*O Allah! Indeed we ask You for beneficial knowledge, and a good Halal provision, and actions which are accepted … Ãmeen *
