According to what al-Bayhaqī relates in his work "al-Dalāʾil," the ṣalāt al-khawf (prayer of fear) was performed at the location of Usfān during this expedition. According to Ibn Isḥāq, this expedition took place in the month of Jumādā al-Awwal in the second year after the Hijra, after the expeditions of the Trench (Khandaq) and Banu Qurayẓa. This closely resembles what al-Bayhaqī has narrated. Allah knows best the truth of the matter.
Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī, through Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥāfiẓ, narrates from Aḥmad b. ʿAbd al-Jabbār and others who said: When Ḥubayb and his companions were killed, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) set out from Medina to avenge them, to seek their blood, and to launch a surprise attack on the Banu Lihyan. He set out on the road to Syria, intending to give the impression that he did not plan to attack the Banu Lihyan tribe. Eventually, he descended upon their territory. He saw that they had taken precautions and had climbed to the tops of the mountains to defend themselves, and he said:
– If we were to descend upon Usfān, the Quraysh would see that we had come to Mecca.
Thereupon, he set out with 200 cavalrymen and arrived at Usfān. Then he sent out two horsemen, who reached the area of Kurāʾ al-Ghamīm and then returned.
According to Abū Ayyāsh al-Zurqī, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the prayer of fear at Usfān.
Imam Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, through the chain of ʿAbd al-Razzāq, narrates from Ibn Ayyāsh who said:
"We were with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) at Usfān. A group of polytheists, among whom was Khālid b. al-Walīd, confronted us. They positioned themselves between us and the direction of the qibla. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the ẓuhr (noon) prayer there. The polytheists said: 'The Muslims are in such a state that if only we could launch a surprise attack upon them.' Then they said: 'A time for a prayer will soon come to them which is dearer to them than their children and their own selves.' Thereupon, Jibrīl (Gabriel) revealed the following verse between ẓuhr and ʿaṣr (afternoon):
"O Muhammad! When you are among them and lead them in prayer..." (al-Nisāʾ 4:102)
When the time for prayer arrived, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered his Companions (ṣaḥāba) to stand for prayer. They took up their weapons. Some of us formed two rows behind the Messenger of God. Then he bowed (rukūʿ), and we all bowed together. He rose from bowing, and we all rose together. Then, with the row behind him, he prostrated (sujūd), while the second row remained standing to wait for the first. When those who had prostrated rose, the second row then prostrated in their place. Then they joined the row of the first, and the first moved to the second row. Then the Messenger of God bowed again, and all bowed together. When he rose from bowing, all rose together. The row behind him prostrated, while the second row remained standing to wait. When those in the first row rose from prostration, the second row prostrated. Then the Messenger of God gave the salām (ending the prayer) with the congregation.
Ibn Ayyāsh says: "The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the prayer of fear twice: once at Usfān, and once in the land of Banu Sulaym."
Muslim, through Abū Haytham Zuhayr b. Muʿāwiya, narrates from Jābir who said: We fought together with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) against the Juhaynah. They fought fiercely. While we were performing the ẓuhr prayer, the polytheists said: "If only we could launch a surprise attack on these Muslims and wipe them out." Jibrīl conveyed their words to the Messenger of God, who then told us and said:
"The polytheists have said: A time for a prayer will come to the Muslims which is dearer to them than their own children." Then he narrated the rest of the ḥadīth as previously mentioned.
Abū Dāwūd al-Tayālisī, through Hishām, narrates from Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh who said: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) led his Companions in the ẓuhr prayer in a date grove. The polytheists planned to attack them, but then said: "Leave them for now. After this prayer, a time for another prayer will come to them which is dearer to them than their own children. Then attack them at that time."
Jābir says: "Thereupon, Jibrīl came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of what the polytheists had said. The Messenger of God then led his Companions in the ʿaṣr prayer, arranging them in two rows behind him. The enemies were in front of the Messenger of God. He began the prayer with the opening takbīr, and the Companions all said the takbīr together, then bowed together. Then those in the row behind the Messenger of God prostrated, while those in the second row remained standing to wait for the first. When those in the first row raised their heads from prostration, those in the second row prostrated. Then the first row moved to the back, and the back row moved forward, and all said the takbīr together. Then they all bowed together. Those in the row behind the Messenger of God prostrated, while those in the second row remained standing to wait. When those in the first row raised their heads from prostration, those in the back row prostrated."
Imam Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, through ʿAbd al-Ṣamad, narrates from Abū Hurayra who said: "The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) descended between the regions of Dajnan and Usfān and camped there. The polytheists said: 'These Muslims have a prayer which is dearer to them than their own children and young camels. This is the ʿaṣr prayer. Let us gather together and launch a sudden attack upon them while they are praying!'"
Jibrīl then came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and instructed him to divide his Companions into two groups: one group should perform the prayer with him, while the other stands behind them, armed and on guard. After the first group has completed their prayer, they should take the place of the guards, and those who were standing guard should come forward and pray with him, while those who have already prayed stand guard with their weapons, so that each group performs one rakʿa while the Messenger of God performs two rakʿas with the congregation."
I say: If Abū Hurayra witnessed this event, then it must have occurred after Khaybar. Otherwise, he would be among those Companions who narrate mursal (unattributed) reports, which, according to the majority of scholars, does not pose a problem. Allah knows best.
Let us now examine whether the expedition of Usfān took place before or after the expedition of the Trench. Some scholars, including Imam al-Shāfiʿī, claim that the prayer of fear was legislated after the expedition of the Trench. On that day, the Muslims, due to the excuse of battle, postponed the prayer beyond its prescribed time. If the prayer of fear had been legislated at that time, they would not have delayed the prayer but would have performed it in its time in the form of the prayer of fear. For this reason, some of the scholars of maghāzī (expeditions) have said:
The expedition of Banu Lihyan—during which the Messenger of God performed the prayer of fear at Usfān—took place after Banu Qurayẓa.
Al-Wāqidī narrates from Khālid b. al-Walīd who said:
"When the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was going to Ḥudaybiyya, I met him at Usfān and stood before him. He led his Companions in the ẓuhr prayer in front of us. We intended to attack them, but could not carry out our intention, for Allah informed him of our plan. Thereupon, he led his Companions in the ʿaṣr prayer in the form of the prayer of fear."
I say: As will be explained later, the ʿumra of Ḥudaybiyya took place after the expeditions of the Trench and Banu Qurayẓa, in the month of Dhū al-Qaʿda of the sixth year after the Hijra.
As can be understood from the wording in the ḥadīth of Abū Ayyāsh al-Zurqī, the verse concerning the prayer of fear was revealed on the day of Usfān during this expedition. This necessitates that the first prayer of fear was performed on that day. Allah knows best. If Allah wills, we will explain in the book "al-Aḥkām al-Kabīr" the manner in which the prayer of fear is to be performed and the various reports concerning it. Our trust and our supplication are to Allah.