Chapter 13 - Prayer During Times of Fear or Danger (Salatul Khauf)

Chapter 13
Prayer During Times of Fear or Danger (Salatul Khauf)

500. Salih bin Khawwat : on the authority of those who prayed Salatul Khauf (prayer during time of danger) with the Prophet at the battle of Dhat ar-Riqa’, ‘A group lined up with the Prophet and prayed along with him- while another group faced the enemy. He prayed one rak’ah with the group that was with him and remained standing while they finished the prayer (by praying another rak’ah) and then left and faced the enemy. The second group came and prayed the remaining rak’ah with him, then he remained sitting until they had completed their prayers themselves, after which he led them making the taslim.’ Agreed upon, and the wording is from Muslim.


501. Ibn ‘Umar : narrated, ‘I took part in a battle with the Prophet in Najd. We faced the enemy and arranged ourselves in rows. Then the Messenger of Allah stood up to to lead the prayer. A group lined up to pray with him while the other faced the enemy. The Prophet bowed in ruku’ and the first group bowed with him and then he performed two prostrations. The first group then left (after praying one rak’ah) and took place of those who had not yet prayed. The second group came to pray with the Prophet and he prayed one rak’ah and performed two prostrations and then said the taslim. Then the latter group stood up and prayed another rak’ah and performed two prostrations on their own.’ Agreed upon, and the wording is from Al-Bukhari.{1}

{1} Imam aas-San’ani in ‘Subul as-Salam’ says that it is apparent theat the second group completed their prayer, and prayed a second rak’ah, after the Imama made the taslim without disconnecting their prayer. The first group did not complete their prayer until the second group had completed theirs and returned to face the enemy and guard the rest of the army, and then they would pray their second rak’ah. This is another way of performing the prayer when ne is afraid. (the fear prayer)



502. Jabir bin’Abdullah : narrated, ‘I prayed Salatul Khauf (prayer when one is afraid) with the Prophet and he arranged us in two rows behind him. The enemy was between us and the Qiblah (i.e. the enemy in this case was in the direction of the Qiblah). The Prophet made the takbir and we all followed him. Then he made ruku’ and we all performed ruku’ after him. Then he raised his head from the ruku’ and we all raised our heads from the ruku’. Next, the Prophet went down for sujud (prostration) as well as the row closest to him (i.e. the front row), while the back row stood facing the enemy until the Prophet and he first row had completed their prostration, after which the back row performed Sujud and then stood. Following those in the back row moved to the front, while those in the front row moved to the back. The Prophet performed ruku’ and we all performed ruku’. Then, he raised his head and we raised our heads from ruku’. Afterward, he made sujud and the last row that was previously in the back during the first rak’ah prostrated with him while the [new] back row stood facing the enemy. When the Prophet and the [new] front row had completed their sujud, the [new] back row performed sujud. Finally, the Prophet made the taslim and we followed him in this.’ Related by Ahmad, Muslim and Nasa’i.

In another narration, ‘…then he prostrated and the first row prostrated with him. When they stood, the second row performed sujud…’ and mentioned the same as the rest of the first hadith.’ Finally, ‘Then the Prophet made the taslim and we all made the taslim with him.’ Related by Muslim.

503. Abu Dawud related on authority of Abu 'Aiyash az-Zuraqi, a similar hadith with the following addition, 'It was performed (i.e. the fear prayer) at 'Usfan.'


504. An-Nasa'i narrated on the authority of Jabir : with a different chain of narrators that the Messenger of Allah prayes two rak'at with one group of his companions and then made the taslim. Then he prayed another two rak'at with another group, and then he made the taslim.


505. Abu Dawud transmitted a similar narration on the authority of Abu Bakrah.


506. Hudhaifah : narrated, "The Messenger of Allah prayed the fear prayer with his companions. He led one group in one rak'ah, and then the other group in one rak'ah , and they did not pray a second rak'ah (to complete two rak'at as they had in the previous cases). Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and was graded as Sahih by Ibn Hibban.


507. Ibn Khuzaimah transmitted a similar hadith on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas.


508. Ibn 'Umar : narrated, 'The Prophet said, "Salatul Khauf (the fear prayer) is one rak'ah and is to be performed in any way." Related by Al-Bazzzar with a weak chain of narrators.


509. Ibn 'Umar : narrated that the Prohphet said, "There is no sujud as-Sahu (prostration due to forgetfulness during prayer), to be performed in Salatul Khauf." Related by Ad-Daraqutni with a weak chain of narrators.