Prayer in Fear
Total Hadiths 58
Maintaining Worship Under Threat: Authentic Hadith on Prayer in Fear
These authentic prophetic traditions clarify the critical importance of keeping up mandatory worship even during the chaos of warfare and imminent danger. The accounts demonstrate that when facing an enemy, the Prophet Muhammad structured congregational prayers to alternate between worship and defense, ensuring that while one group bowed and prostrated, another stood guard. Companions like Ibn Abbas and Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman detailed how rows would shift after a single rak'ah, keeping the community united in prayer without leaving themselves vulnerable. According to Islamic scholars, these texts establish that if the enemy outnumbers the believers or battle lines clash directly, Muslims are granted the flexibility to pray individually while standing or riding on horseback, highlighting that fear never nullifies the obligation of prayer.
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْخَوْفِ وَيَقُولُ صَلَّيْتُهَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِهَذَا الْمَعْنَى .
This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 839bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 371USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1824
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُومَانَ، عَنْ صَالِحِ، بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ عَمَّنْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ ذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ أَنَّ طَائِفَةً صَفَّتْ مَعَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ وِجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ . فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ قَائِمًا وَأَتَمُّوا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ . ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا فَصَفُّوا وِجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ وَجَاءَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الأُخْرَى فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ الرَّكْعَةَ الَّتِي بَقِيَتْ ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ جَالِسًا وَأَتَمُّوا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ بِهِمْ .
Yazid b. Ruman told on the authority of Salih b. Khawwat on the authority of one who prayed in time of danger with Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) at the Battle of Dhat ar-Riqa' that a group formed a row and prayed along with him, and a group faced the enemy. He led the group which was along with him in a rak'ah, then remained standing while they finished the prayer by themselves. Then they departed and formed a row facing the enemy. Then the second group came and he led them in the remaining rak'ah, after which he remained seated while they finished the prayer themselves. He then led them in salutation.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 842In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 376USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1829
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُومَانَ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ، عَمَّنْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ ذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ أَنَّ طَائِفَةً صَفَّتْ مَعَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ وُجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ قَائِمًا وَأَتَمُّوا لأَنْفُسَهِمْ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا فَصَفُّوا وُجَاهَ الْعَدُوِّ وَجَاءَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الأُخْرَى فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ الرَّكْعَةَ الَّتِي بَقِيَتْ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ جَالِسًا وَأَتَمُّوا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ بِهِمْ .
It was narrated from Salih bin Khawwat from one who had prayed the fear prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of Dhat Ar-Riqa' that: One group had formed a row behind him and another group faced the enemy. He led those who were with him in praying one rak'ah, then he remained standing and they completed the prayer by themselves. Then they moved away and formed a row facing the enemy, and the other group came and he led them in praying the rak'ah that was left for him, then he remained sitting while they completed the prayer by themselves, then he said the taslim with them.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1537In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1538
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زُرَيْعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى بِإِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ رَكْعَةً وَالطَّائِفَةُ الأُخْرَى مُوَاجِهَةُ الْعَدُوِّ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقُوا فَقَامُوا فِي مَقَامِ أُولَئِكَ وَجَاءَ أُولَئِكَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً أُخْرَى ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَامَ هَؤُلاَءِ فَقَضُوا رَكْعَتَهُمْ وَقَامَ هَؤُلاَءِ فَقَضُوا رَكْعَتَهُمْ .
It was narrated from Salim from his father, that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led one of the two groups in praying one rak'ah while the other group was facing the enemy, then they moved away and took the place of the others, and the others came and he led them in praying the other rak'ah, then he said the salam and they stood up and made up the other rak'ah, and the others stood up and made up the other rak'ah.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1538In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1539
أَخْبَرَنِي كَثِيرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قِبَلَ نَجْدٍ فَوَازَيْنَا الْعَدُوَّ وَصَافَفْنَاهُمْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي بِنَا فَقَامَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنَّا مَعَهُ وَأَقْبَلَ طَائِفَةٌ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ فَرَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا فَكَانُوا مَكَانَ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا وَجَاءَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الَّتِي لَمْ تُصَلِّ فَرَكَعَ بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَرَكَعَ لِنَفْسِهِ رَكْعَةً وَسَجْدَتَيْنِ .
Salim bin 'Abdullah narrated that his father said: "I went out on a campaign with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) toward Najd. We confronted the enemy and formed ranks facing them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and led us in prayer. Some of us stood with him and some of us faced the enemy. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed and those who were with him bowed, and prostrated twice. Then they moved away and took the place of the others, and the other group who had not prayed came and he led them in bowing once and prostrating twice. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the salam and each of the Muslims stood up and bowed once, and prostrated twice individually."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1539In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 11English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1540
وَرَوَى مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُومَانَ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَوَّاتٍ، عَمَّنْ صَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَبِهِ يَقُولُ مَالِكٌ وَالشَّافِعِيُّ وَأَحْمَدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ . وَرُوِيَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى بِإِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ رَكْعَةً رَكْعَةً فَكَانَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَتَانِ وَلَهُمْ رَكْعَةٌ رَكْعَةٌ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى أَبُو عَيَّاشٍ الزُّرَقِيُّ اسْمُهُ زَيْدُ بْنُ صَامِتٍ .
It was reported by Malik from Yazid bin Ruman, : From Salih Bin Khawwat, From Someone Who Prayed Salat Al-Khawf With The Prophet, And He Mentioned A Similar Narration.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 567In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 24English translation : Vol. 2, Book 1, Hadith 567
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الرَّازِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى نَجْدٍ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ مِنْ نَخْلٍ لَقِيَ جَمْعًا مِنْ غَطَفَانَ فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ وَلَفْظُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ لَفْظِ حَيْوَةَ وَقَالَ فِيهِ حِينَ رَكَعَ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ وَسَجَدَ قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَامُوا مَشَوُا الْقَهْقَرَى إِلَى مَصَافِّ أَصْحَابِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ اسْتِدْبَارَ الْقِبْلَةِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to Najd. When we reached Dhat ar-Riqa at Nakhl (or in a valley with palm trees) he met a group of the tribe of Ghatafan. The narrator then reported the tradition to the same effect, but his version is other than that of Haywah. He added to the words "when he bowed along with those who were with him and prostrated" the words "when they stood up, they retraced their footsteps to the rows of their companions". He did not mention the words "their back was towards the qiblah".
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1241In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 44English translation : Book 4, Hadith 1237
أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْهُنَائِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَازِلاً بَيْنَ ضَجْنَانَ وَعُسْفَانَ مُحَاصِرَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنَّ لِهَؤُلاَءِ صَلاَةً هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَبْنَائِهِمْ وَأَبْكَارِهِمْ أَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ مِيلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً فَجَاءَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقْسِمَ أَصْحَابَهُ نِصْفَيْنِ فَيُصَلِّيَ بِطَائِفَةٍ مِنْهُمْ وَطَائِفَةٌ مُقْبِلُونَ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ قَدْ أَخَذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَيُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ يَتَأَخَّرَ هَؤُلاَءِ وَيَتَقَدَّمَ أُولَئِكَ فَيُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً تَكُونُ لَهُمْ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَةً رَكْعَةً وَلِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَتَانِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was camping between Dajnan and 'Usfan, besieging the idolaters. The idolaters said: 'These people have a prayer that is dearer to them than their sons and daughters. Plan it, then strike them with a single heavy blow.'Jibril, peace be upon him, came and told the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to divide his companions into two groups, then lead one group in prayer while the others faced the enemy, on guard and with weapons at the ready. So he led them in praying one rak'ah, then they moved back and the others moved forward, and he led them in praying on rak'ah, so that each one of them had prayed one rak'ah with the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) had prayed two rak'ahs.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1544In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 16English translation : Vol. 2, Book 18, Hadith 1545
حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَامَ النَّاسُ مَعَهُ، فَكَبَّرَ وَكَبَّرُوا مَعَهُ، وَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعَ نَاسٌ مِنْهُمْ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدُوا مَعَهُ، ثُمَّ قَامَ لِلثَّانِيَةِ فَقَامَ الَّذِينَ سَجَدُوا وَحَرَسُوا إِخْوَانَهُمْ، وَأَتَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الأُخْرَى فَرَكَعُوا وَسَجَدُوا مَعَهُ، وَالنَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ فِي صَلاَةٍ، وَلَكِنْ يَحْرُسُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Once the Prophet (p.b.u.h) led the fear prayer and the people stood behind him. He said Takbir (Allahu-Akbar) and the people said the same. He bowed and some of them bowed. Then he prostrated and they also prostrated. Then he stood for the second rak`a and those who had prayed the first rak`a left and guarded their brothers. The second party joined him and performed bowing and prostration with him. All the people were in prayer but they were guarding one another during the prayer.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 944In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 14, Hadith 66
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَخْنَسِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الصَّلاَةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْحَضَرِ أَرْبَعًا وَفِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَفِي الْخَوْفِ رَكْعَةً .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Allah, the Exalted, prescribed prayer for you, through the tongue of your Prophet (ﷺ), four rak'ahs while resident, two rak'ahs while travelling and one rak'ah in time of danger.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1247In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 50English translation : Book 4, Hadith 1242
