On the day of the Khandaq `Umar came, cursing the disbelievers of Quraish and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have not offered the `Asr prayer and the sun has set." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "By Allah! I too, have not offered the prayer yet. "The Prophet (ﷺ) then went to Buthan, performed ablution and performed the `Asr prayer after the sun had set and then offered the Maghrib prayer after it."
Fear Prayer (Salat al-Khawf)
Book: Sahih al-Bukhari | Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 945
Contextual Background
This narration occurred during the Battle of Khandaq (the Trench) in 5 AH, when Muslims were besieged in Medina by confederate tribes. The intense fighting prevented the timely performance of Asr prayer.
Juridical Analysis
The Prophet's action demonstrates the permissibility of delaying prayers during legitimate warfare and extreme necessity. This establishes the principle of "rukhsah" (concession) in Islamic jurisprudence during times of genuine hardship.
The sequence of prayers - performing Asr after sunset followed immediately by Maghrib - shows that missed prayers due to legitimate excuses should be made up in their original order, maintaining the structural integrity of prayer times.
Spiritual Dimensions
The Prophet's admission that he too had not prayed demonstrates his shared human experience with the companions, fostering communal solidarity. His immediate action upon realizing the situation teaches the importance of promptly addressing religious obligations when circumstances permit.
The performance of ablution before the delayed prayer emphasizes that ritual purity remains obligatory even when prayers are performed after their prescribed time due to valid reasons.
Scholarly Consensus
Classical scholars from all madhahib agree that this hadith provides foundational evidence for the rules governing fear prayer and missed prayers due to unavoidable circumstances. The incident illustrates the balance between maintaining religious obligations and recognizing human limitations during genuine hardship.