The Book of the Fear Prayer
كتاب صلاة الخوف
Chapter 1: The narrations mentioned for the Fear Prayer
"We were with Sa'eed bin Al-'Asi in Tabaristan, and Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman was with us. He said: 'Which of you offered the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' Hudhaifah said: 'I did.' So Hudhaifah stood and the people formed two rows behind him, one row behind him and one row facing the enemy. He led those who were behind him in praying one rak'ah, then they went and took the place of the others, and the others came and he led them in praying one rak'ah, and they did not make it up."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed at Dhi Qarad and the people formed two rows behind him, one row behind him and one row facing the enemy. He led those who were behind him in praying one rak'ah, then they went and took the place of the others, and the others came and he led them in praying one rak'ah, and they did not make it up.
'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood and the people stood with him, and he said the takbir and they said the takbir. Then he bowed, and some of them bowed, then he prostrated and they prostrated, then he stood for the second rak'ah and those who had prostrated with him moved back and guarded their brothers, and the other group came and bowed and prostrated with the Prophet (ﷺ). All the people were praying and saying the takbir, but they were guarding one another."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them in offering the fear prayer. Some formed a row behind him and some formed a row facing the enemy. He led them in praying one rak'ah, then they moved away and the others came, and he led them in praying one rak'ah, then they got up and each (group) made up the other rak'ah.
"Abdullah bin 'Umar used to narrate that he offered the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) said the takbir and one group of us formed a row behind him while the other group faced the enemy. The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in bowing once and prostrating twice, then they moved away and faced the enemy, and the other group came and prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ), doing likewise. Then he said the taslim, then each man of both groups stood and prayed by himself, bowing once and prostrating twice.'"
He asked Abu Hurairah: "Did you offer the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" Abu Hurairah said: "Yes." He asked: "When?" He said: "In the year of the campaign to Najd. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up to pray 'Asr and a group stood with him, and another group as facing the enemy, with their backs toward the Qiblah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the takbir, and they all said the takbir, those who were with him and those who were with him facing the enemy. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed once and the group that was with him bowed, then he and the group that was with him prostrated twice, while the others were standing facing the enemy. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and the group that was with him stood and went to face the enemy, and the group that had been facing the enemy came and bowed and prostrated while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing there. Then they stood up, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed again, and they bowed and prostrated with him. Then the group that had been facing the enemy came and bowed and prostrated, while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and those who were with him were sitting. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the taslim and they all said the taslim. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed two rak'ahs and each of the two groups had prayed two rak'ahs."
"We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a palm grove and the enemy was between us and the Qiblah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the takbir and we all said the takbir. Then he bowed and we all bowed. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) and the row that was closest to him prostrated, while the others remained standing, guarding us. When we stood up, the others prostrated where we were, then they moved forward and he bowed and they all bowed, then he stood up and they all stood up. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) and the row that was closest to him prostrated, and the others remained standing, guarding them. When they had prostrated and were sitting, the others prostrated where they were, then he said the salam." Jabir said: "As your leaders do."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led his companions in offering the fear prayer. One group prayed with him while the other was facing the enemy. He led them in praying two rak'ahs, then they went and took the place of the others, and the others came and he led them in praying two rak'ahs, then he said the taslim.