18/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1530 — Fear Prayer Without Making Up
The narrations mentioned for the Fear Prayer
Salat al-Khawf Hadith: Two Rows and No Make-Up
Sunan an-Nasai : 1530
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1530
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَشْعَثُ بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ زَهْدَمٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْعَاصِي بِطَبَرِسْتَانَ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ أَنَا . فَقَامَ حُذَيْفَةُ فَصَفَّ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ صَفَّيْنِ صَفًّا خَلْفَهُ وَصَفًّا مُوَازِيَ الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِي خَلْفَهُ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ هَؤُلاَءِ إِلَى مَكَانِ هَؤُلاَءِ وَجَاءَ أُولَئِكَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً وَلَمْ يَقْضُوا .
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.' So Hudhaifah stood and the people formed two rows behind him, one row behind him and one row facing the enemy. He led those who were behind him in praying one rak'ah, then they went and took the place of the others, and the others came and he led them in praying one rak'ah, and they did not make it up.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1530In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1531
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1530
This salat al-khawf hadith reports how Hudhaifah described and then demonstrated the fear prayer. The people formed two rows: one row behind him and one row facing the enemy. Hudhaifah led those behind him in one rak'ah. Then they moved to the place of the other group, and the other group came and prayed one rak'ah with him. The narration ends by saying that they did not make it up. This is an important detail in this specific report, so it should be stated carefully without adding outside rulings. The hadith shows a form of prayer during fear where the worshippers stayed organized, some guarded, and each group prayed with the imam.
What we learn from this hadith
- The fear prayer was arranged with one row praying and one row facing the enemy.
- Each group prayed one rak'ah with the imam in this narration.
- The report states that they did not make up the prayer.
- Guarding and praying were both maintained in an orderly way.
