18/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1529 — Fear Prayer in Groups
The narrations mentioned for the Fear Prayer
Fear Prayer Hadith: One Group Prays While One Guards
Sunan an-Nasai : 1529
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1529
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّعْثَاءِ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ زَهْدَمٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْعَاصِي بِطَبَرِسْتَانَ وَمَعَنَا حُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ الْيَمَانِ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ أَنَا فَوَصَفَ فَقَالَ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ بِطَائِفَةٍ رَكْعَةً صَفٍّ خَلْفَهُ وَطَائِفَةٍ أُخْرَى بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِالطَّائِفَةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهِ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ نَكَصَ هَؤُلاَءِ إِلَى مَصَافِّ أُولَئِكَ وَجَاءَ أُولَئِكَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً .
Tha'labah bin Zahdam Narrated from:
We were with Sa'eed bin Al-'Asi in Tabaristan, and Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman was with us. He said: 'Which of you offered the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' Hudhaifah said: 'I did', and he described it. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered the fear prayer, leading one group who had formed rows behind him in praying one rak'ah, while the other group was between him and the enemy. So he led the group that was near him in praying one rak'ah, then they left and took the place of others, and the others came and he led them in praying one rak'ah.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1529In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1530
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1529
This fear prayer hadith describes how prayer was performed while facing an enemy. Hudhaifah said that he had offered the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He described that one group formed rows behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and prayed one rak'ah with him, while the other group stood between him and the enemy. After the first group prayed, they moved to the place of the other group. Then the other group came and prayed one rak'ah with him. The hadith shows both prayer and protection happening together. It does not present fear as a reason to abandon prayer. Instead, the people prayed in an arranged way while also watching the enemy.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer was maintained even during danger.
- One group prayed while another remained between the prayer group and the enemy.
- The groups changed places so each could pray with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The hadith shows order and care during the fear prayer.
