The Book of the Fear Prayer
كتاب صلاة الخوف
Chapter 1: The narrations mentioned for the Fear Prayer
"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."
"I heard Mujahid narrating from Abu Ayyash Az-Zuraqi"- Shu'bah said: "He had written it for me, and I read it before him, and I heard him narrating it; rather, I even memorized it." Ibn Bashshar said: "I memorized it from the book"- "The Prophet (ﷺ) was drawing up ranks facing the enemy in 'Usfan when the idolaters were led by Khalid bin Al-Walid. The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in praying Zuhr. The idolaters said: 'They have a prayer after this that is dearer to them than their wealth and sons.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them in praying 'Asr. He divided them into two rows, behind him. He led them all in bowing, then when they raised their heads he led the row that was closest to him in prostrating, while the others remained standing. When they raised their heads from prostration, the second row prostrated, as they had already bowed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Then the front row moved forward, so each of them took the place of his companion. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them all in bowing, then when they raised their heads from bowing, the row that was closest to him prostrated while the others remained standing, then when they had finished prostrating, the others prostrated, then the Prophet (ﷺ) said the taslim for all of them together.
"We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in 'Usfan and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in praying Zuhr. The idolaters were led that day by Khalid bin Al-Walid, and the idolaters said: 'We have caught them unawares.' Then the fear prayer was revealed between Zuhr and 'Asr. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in praying 'Asr and divided us into two groups, a group that prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) and a group that guarded him. He said takbir with those who were closest to him and those who were guarding them, then he bowed and both groups bowed with him. Then those who were closest to him prostrated. Then they moved back and the others moved forward and prostrated. Then he stood and led them all in bowing, those who were closest to him and those who were guarding him. Then he led those who were closest to him in prostrating, then they moved back and took the place of their companions and the others came forward and prostrated. Then he said the taslim so each group had prayed two rak'ahs with their imam. And he offered the fear prayer once in the land of Banu Sulaym."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led the people in offering the fear prayer, two rak'ahs. Then he said the taslim and led others in offering the fear prayer, then he said the taslim. So the Prophet (ﷺ) had prayed four rak'ahs.
The Prophet (ﷺ) led a group of his companions in praying two rak'ahs, then he said the taslim, then he led some others in praying two rak'ahs, then he said the taslim.
"The imam should stand up facing the Qiblah and some of them should stand with him while the others stand facing the enemy. Then he should pray one rak'ah with them and they should pray another rak'ah by themselves, and prostrate twice where they are. Then they should go to where the others are and the others should come and he should lead them in bowing once and prostrating twice, so it will be two rak'ahs for him and one for them. Then they should bow once and prostrate twice (by themselves, to make up the other rak'ah)."
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.
The Prophet (ﷺ) offered the fear prayer with those who were behind him, praying two rak'ahs (with them) and two rak'ahs with those who came after them, so the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed four rak'ahs and the others each prayed two rak'ahs.