The Book of the Fear Prayer

Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna and Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us, from Muhammad, who said: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from Mansur, who said: I heard Mujahid narrating from Abu ‘Ayyash al-Zuraqi. Shu‘bah said: He wrote it to me; I read it to him and heard him narrate it, but I had memorized it. Ibn Bashshar said in his version, “My retention is from the written text”: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was facing the enemy at ‘Usfan, with Khalid ibn al-Walid leading the polytheists. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in the noon prayer. The polytheists said, “They have another prayer after this that they love more than their wealth and sons.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then led them in the ‘Asr prayer, arranging them in two rows behind him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) bowed with them all. When they raised their heads, he prostrated with the row nearest him while the others stood. When the first row raised their heads from prostration, the rear row prostrated, having bowed with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the front row moved back, and the rear row moved forward, each taking the other’s place. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) bowed with them all. When they raised their heads from bowing, the row nearest him prostrated while the others stood. When they had finished prostrating, the others prostrated. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the taslim to them.

‘Amr ibn ‘Ali narrated to us; he said: ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Samad narrated to us; he said: Mansur narrated to us, from Mujahid, from Abu ‘Ayyash al-Zuraqi, who said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) at ‘Usfan, where he led us in the noon prayer. Khalid ibn al-Walid was leading the polytheists that day. The polytheists said, “We caught them off guard; they were unaware.” Then the fear prayer was revealed—that is, the fear prayer was prescribed—between the noon and afternoon prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the afternoon prayer and divided us into two groups: one group prayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and one group guarded him. He proclaimed Allah’s greatness with those nearest to him and those guarding them. Then he bowed, and both groups bowed with him. Then those nearest to him prostrated. They moved back, and the others moved forward and prostrated. Then he stood and led them all in the second rak‘ah, both those nearest to him and those guarding him. He prostrated with those nearest to him. Then they moved back and took the positions of their companions, and the others moved forward and prostrated. Then he said the taslim. Each group had prayed two rak‘ahs with their imam. He also prayed the fear prayer once in the land of Banu Sulaym.

Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-A‘la and Isma‘il ibn Mas‘ud narrated to us—the wording is his. They said: Khalid narrated to us, from Ash‘ath, from al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led one group in the fear prayer for two rak‘ahs, then said the taslim. Then he led the other group in two rak‘ahs, then said the taslim. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed four rak‘ahs.

Ibrahim ibn Ya‘qub narrated to me; he said: ‘Amr ibn ‘Asim narrated to us; he said: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us, from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, from Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed two rak‘ahs with one group of his Companions, then said the taslim. Then he also prayed two rak‘ahs with another group, then said the taslim.

Abu Hafs, ‘Amr ibn ‘Ali, narrated to us; he said: Yahya ibn Sa‘id narrated to us, from Yahya ibn Sa‘id, from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from Salih ibn Khawwat, from Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah, concerning the fear prayer, who said: The imam stands facing the qiblah, with one group standing with him and another facing the enemy, their faces toward the enemy. He leads them in one rak‘ah; then they perform a rak‘ah on their own and prostrate twice where they are. They then move to the place of the others, and the others come. He leads them in a rak‘ah and prostrates twice with them. Thus, it is two rak‘ahs for him and one for them. Then they each perform a rak‘ah and prostrate twice.

‘Amr ibn ‘Ali narrated to us; he said: ‘Abd al-A‘la narrated to us; he said: Yunus narrated to us, from al-Hasan, who said: Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led his Companions in the fear prayer. One group prayed with him while another faced the enemy. He led them in two rak‘ahs. Then they took the position of the others, and the others came, and he led them in two rak‘ahs. Then he said the taslim.

‘Amr ibn ‘Ali narrated to us; he said: Yahya ibn Sa‘id narrated to us; he said: al-Ash‘ath narrated to us, from al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he prayed the fear prayer with those behind him for two rak‘ahs, then with those who came afterward for two rak‘ahs. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed four rak‘ahs, and each of those groups prayed two rak‘ahs.