VOLUME 2 – 281 – THE PRAYER OF FEAR
It was narrated from Abu Ayyash az-Zuraki, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said:
We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Usfan. Khalid bin al-Walid was leading the polytheists. We performed the noon prayer. The polytheists said, “By Allah, we have been deceived! By Allah, we have been negligent! Should we not have attacked while the Muslims were praying?” Then the verse regarding shortening the prayer during fear was revealed. When the time of the afternoon prayer arrived, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned towards the qibla and the polytheists were in front of him. A row formed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and another row formed after that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bowed down for rukūʿ, and all the rows bowed down. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrated, and the row directly behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also prostrated. The row that formed at the back remained standing, waiting for those who were prostrating. Those (directly behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) completed two prostrations and stood up. Then the row behind them prostrated. After that, the front row took the place of the back row, and the back row took the place of the front row. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ bowed down for rukūʿ, and all the rows bowed down. Then he prostrated, and those in the row directly behind him also prostrated, while the others at the back remained standing, waiting for them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and those directly behind him rose from prostration, those on duty prostrated. Then they all sat together. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had them all give greetings. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed this prayer in Usfan once, and also in Banu Sulaim. [222]
Abu Dawud said: According to some, the imam performs the prayer of fear (shortened prayer due to fear) with two rows as follows: He says “Allahu Akbar” along with the congregation, then he goes into rukūʿ with them. Then those in the back row wait while the congregation is standing, and the imam prostrates with the first row behind him. When those who are prostrating rise, those waiting behind them prostrate. Then the row behind the imam retreats and takes the place of those standing. Then the imam goes into rukūʿ, and both rows go into rukūʿ with him.
Then those in the back row wait while the imam prostrates, and the row behind him also prostrates. When the imam and the row behind him sit, the others prostrate. Then they all sit together. After that, the imam has them all give greetings.
Abu Dawud said: This is the view of Sufyan ath-Thawri.