Prayer in Time of Danger - Section 1

Salim b. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar quoted his father as saying:

I went on an expedition with God’s Messenger to Najd, and when we came in front of the enemy we drew up in line facing them. God’s Messenger then stood up and led us in prayer, and one section stood up along with him while another faced the enemy. He prayed a <i>rak'a</i> with those who were with him and made two prostrations, and then they changed places with those who had not prayed. When they came God’s Messenger prayed a <i>rak'a</i> with them and made two prostrations, then he uttered the salutation and each of them got up and left, after which he prayed a <i>rak'a</i> alone and made two prostrations. Nafi‘ transmitted something similar, adding that when there was greater cause for fear than on that occasion they prayed standing on their feet or mounted, without considering whether or not they were facing the <i>qibla</i>. Nafi‘ said he thought God’s Messenger was the one on whose authority Ibn ‘Umar mentioned that. Bukhari transmitted it.

عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قِبَلَ نَجْدٍ فَوَازَيْنَا الْعَدُوَّ فَصَافَفْنَا لَهُمْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي لَنَا فَقَامَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مَعَهُ وَأَقْبَلَتْ طَائِفَةٌ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ وَرَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا مَكَانَ الطَّائِفَةِ الَّتِي لم تصل فجاؤوا فَرَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بهم رَكْعَةً وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَرَوَى نَافِعٌ نَحْوَهُ وَزَادَ: فَإِن كَانَ خوف هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ صَلَّوْا رِجَالًا قِيَامًا عَلَى أَقْدَامِهِمْ أَوْ رُكْبَانًا مُسْتَقْبِلِي الْقِبْلَةِ أَوْ غَيْرَ مُسْتَقْبِلِيهَا قَالَ نَافِعٌ: لَا أُرَى ابْنَ عُمَرَ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Yazid b. Ruman told on the authority of Salih b. al-Khawwat on the authority of one who prayed in time of danger along with God’s Messenger at the battle of Dhat ar-Riqa'* that a section formed a line along with him and a section faced the enemy. He led the section which was along with him in a <i>rak'a</i>, then remained standing while they finished the prayer by themselves. They then departed and drew up in line facing the enemy, and when the other party came he led them in the remaining <i>rak'a</i> of his prayer, after which he remained seated while they finished the prayer by themselves. He then led them in uttering the salutation. * This was during an expedition against some sections of Ghatafan in 4 A.H (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari rendered it also by another line from al-Qasim from Salih b. al-Khawwat from Sahl b. Abu Hathma from the Prophet.

وَعَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُومَانَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ عَمَّنْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ ذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ صَلَاةَ الْخَوْفِ: أَنَّ طَائِفَةً صَفَّتْ مَعَهُ وَطَائِفَةً وِجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِالَّتِي مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ قَائِمًا وَأَتَمُّوا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا فَصَفُّوا وِجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ وَجَاءَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الْأُخْرَى فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ الرَّكْعَةَ الَّتِي بَقِيَتْ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ جَالِسًا وَأَتمُّوا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثمَّ سلم بهم وَأَخْرَجَ الْبُخَارِيُّ بِطَرِيقٍ آخَرَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Jabir said:

We went forward with God’s Messenger, and when we reached Dhat ar-Riqa‘ we came to a shady tree which we left for him. One of the polytheists came along and seeing the sword of God’s Messenger hanging on a tree he took it, drew it from the scabbard and said to him, "Are you afraid of me?” On being told that he was not, he asked, “Who will protect you from me?” He replied, “God will protect me from you.” Then the companions of God’s Messenger threatened him, and he sheathed the sword and hung it up. The call to prayer was made and he led a section in two <i>rak'as</i>, after which they withdrew and he led the other section in two <i>rak'as</i>, so that God’s Messenger prayed four <i>rak'as</i> and the people prayed two. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: أَقْبَلْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى إِذْ كُنَّا بِذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ قَالَ: كُنَّا إِذَا أَتَيْنَا عَلَى شَجَرَةٍ ظَلِيلَةٍ تَرَكْنَاهَا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ المشكرين وَسَيْفُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُعَلَّقٌ بِشَجَرَةٍ فَأَخَذَ سَيْفَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاخْتَرَطَهُ فَقَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَتَخَافُنِي؟ قَالَ: «لَا» . قَالَ: فَمَنْ يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي؟ قَالَ: «اللَّهُ يَمْنَعُنِي مِنْك» . قَالَ: فَتَهَدَّدَهُ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَغَمَدَ السَّيْفَ وَعَلَّقَهُ قَالَ: فَنُودِيَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَصَلَّى بِطَائِفَةٍ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ تَأَخَّرُوا وَصَلَّى بِالطَّائِفَةِ الْأُخْرَى رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَالَ: فَكَانَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَرْبَعُ رَكَعَاتٍ وَلِلْقَوْمِ رَكْعَتَانِ

He said:

God’s Messenger led us in the prayer in time of danger and we drew up in two rows behind him with the enemy between us and the <i>qibla</i>. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "God is most great” and we all said it; then he bowed and we all bowed; then he raised his head after bowing and we all raised ours; then he and the row next him went down in prostration while the rear row stood facing the enemy; then when the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the prostration and the row next him stood up, the rear row went down in prostration; then they stood up; then the rear row went to the front and the front row to the rear; then the Prophet (ﷺ) bowed and we all bowed; then he raised his head after bowing and we all raised ours; then he and the row next him which had been in the rear in the first <i>rak'a</i> went down in prostration while the rear row stood facing the enemy; then when the Prophet (ﷺ) and the row next him finished the prostration the rear row went down and prostrated them selves; then the Prophet, uttered the salutation and we all did so. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن جَابر قَالَ: صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاةَ الْخَوْفِ فَصَفَفْنَا خَلْفَهُ صَفَّيْنِ وَالْعَدُوُّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ فَكَبَّرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَكَبَّرْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثمَّ رفع رَأسه من الرُّكُوع ورفعنا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ انْحَدَرَ بِالسُّجُودِ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فِي نَحْرِ الْعَدُوِّ فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ السُّجُودَ وَقَامَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ انْحَدَرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِالسُّجُودِ ثُمَّ قَامُوا ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ وَتَأَخَّرَ الْمُقَدَّمُ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ من الرُّكُوع ورفعنا جَمِيعًا ثمَّ انحدر بِالسُّجُود وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ الَّذِي كَانَ مُؤَخَّرًا فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُولَى وَقَامَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فِي نَحْرِ الْعَدو فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ السُّجُودَ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ انْحَدَرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَسَجَدُوا ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَسَلَّمْنَا جَمِيعًا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Jabir said the Prophet (ﷺ) was leading the people in the noon prayer in time of danger in a valley with palm trees.* He led a section in two <i>rak'as</i> after which he uttered the salutation; then another section came and he led them in two <i>rak'as</i> after which he uttered the salutation. *The Arabic is <i>bi-bain nakhl</i>. <i>Mirqat</i>, 2, 244, says this is the name of a place between Mecca and at-Ta’if; but the name of that place is Nakhla. Alternatively it is said to be Batn an-nakhl near Medina. [Baghawi] transmitted it in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

عَنْ جَابِرٌ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ فِي الْخَوْف بِبَطن نخل فَصَلَّى بِطَائِفَةٍ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ فِي «شرح السّنة»

Abu Huraira told how when God's Messenger encamped between Dajnan and ‘Usfan1 the polytheists said, “These people observe a prayer which is dearer to them than their fathers and their sons, and it is the afternoon prayer, so join together and attach them in a single rush.”2 But Gabriel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and ordered him to divide his companions into two divisions and lead one section in prayer while another stood behind them on guard and armed. They would pray one <i>rak'a</i> and God’s Messenger two. 1. Dajnan is a mountain near Mecca and ‘Usfan, a place two days’ journey from Mecca on the way to Medina. 2. Cf. Al-Qur'an; 4:102. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَزَلَ بَيْنَ ضَجْنَانَ وَعُسْفَانَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ: لِهَؤُلَاءِ صَلَاةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَبْنَائِهِمْ وَهِيَ الْعَصْرُ فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ فَتَمِيلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقْسِمَ أَصْحَابَهُ شَطْرَيْنِ فَيُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ وَتَقُومَ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى وَرَاءَهُمْ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ رَكْعَةٌ وَلِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَكْعَتَانِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ