Solāh al-Khauf
By Sayyid Sābiq
In the name of Allāh, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to
Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship
except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.
The scholars are all in agreement
about the legality of “Solāh of Fear” (Solāh al-Khauf). The Qur'an says:
“Maintain with care
the [obligatory] Solāh and [in particular] the middle Solāh and stand before
Allah, devoutly obedient. And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or
riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in Solāh], as He has
taught you that which you did not [previously] know.”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:238-239)
“And when you are
among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with
you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be
[in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not
[yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their
arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your
baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is
no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down
your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers
a humiliating punishment.” (An-Nisā’, 4:102)
On this subject Imam Ahmad
(rahimahullāh) says: “There are six or seven
confirmed hadith about ‘Solatul Khauf,’ and whichever way one performs it, it
will be valid.”
Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) says: “Basically, there are six ways to pray Solatul Khauf,
although some say there are more than (six ways of praying it). Whenever they
notice any difference in the narration of an incident, they describe it as a
difference [in the manner of prayer] thus coming to seventeen ways. This might
be due to different acts of the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) or simply to differences in the narrations.” Al-Hafiz
(rahimallāh) says: This is the true position and its explanation is given
below.
1.1- If the enemy is not in the
direction of the qiblah, then the imam should lead a group in the performance
of one raka`ah after which he should wait until they complete the second
raka`ah by themselves, and then, they should go and face the enemy. And the
second group should come and the imam would lead them in Solah while he is
performing his second raka`ah. He should again wait for them to complete
another raka`ah by themselves before leading them in the salutations.
Saleh Ibn Khawat relates from Saleh
Ibn Abu Khaithimahn (radiyallāhu`anhu) that a group lined up with the Allāh’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) while another group faced the enemy.
He prayed one raka`ah with the group that was with him and remained standing
while they finished the Solāh and left and faced the enemy. The second group
came and prayed the remaining raka`ah with him, then he stayed sitting until
they had completed their Solāh individually, after which he led them in
making the taslim. This is related by the group, except for Ibn Majah.
1.2- If the enemy is not in the
direction of the Qiblah, then, the imam prays one raka`ah with one group of the
army while the other group faces the enemy, after which the two groups exchange
places, and the imam prays one raka`ah with the second group. The members of
each group will complete one raka'ah of their prayers on their own.
Ibn `Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu) says:
“The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed one raka`ah with
one group while the other group faced the enemy, [At that point, those who had
prayed] took the place of their companions facing the enemy and the second
group came and prayed one raka`ah with the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu
`alayhi wasallam) and then he made the taslim. Then each group made (the
remaining) one raka`ah.” This is related by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad. It
is apparent that the second group completed their Solāh after the imam made the
taslim without discontinuing their Solāh (i.e., for them, it was two continuous
raka'at), and the first group did not complete their Solah until the second
group had completed their Solāh and went back to face the enemy. Ibn Mas`ud
(radiyallāhu`anhu) says: “Then, he made the taslim and they stood up to finish
the second raka`ah individually and, then they made their taslim.”
1.3- The imam prays two raka`at with
each group, the first two raka`at being his fard Solāh and the latter two being
nawafil. It is allowed for one who is making a nawafil to lead others in Solāh
who are praying fard. Jabir (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Allāh’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed two raka`at with one group of
his companions and then another two raka'at with another group and then he made
the taslim. This is related by ash-Shafi`ie (rahimallāh) and an-Nasa`ie.
Abu Dawud, Ahmad, and an-Nasa`ie record
that he said: “The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu
`alayhi wasallam) prayed the Solāh al-Khauf with us, and he prayed two raka`at
with some of his companions, and then the others came and took their places and
he prayed two raka`at with them, and he made the taslim. So, the Allāh’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed four raka`at and the people
prayed two raka`at each.”
Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim record
that he said: “We were with the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)
during the campaign of Zhat al-Riqa and the
Solah was made, and he prayed two raka`at with one group and then they
withdrew, and he led the other group in two raka`at. The Allāh’s Messenger
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) performed Solāh four raka`at and the people performed Solāh two
raka`at.”
1.4- If the enemy is in the
direction of the qiblah, then the imam leads both of the groups in Solāh at the
same time and they share in guarding against the enemy, and they follow the
imam in every one of his actions until he performs sajdah, in which case one
group will make the sajdah with him and the other will wait until they are
finished and then perform their own sujjud. After the first raka`ah is
finished, the people in front will move to the back and those in the back will
move to the front.
Jabir (radiyallāhu`anhu) said:”I
prayed Solatul Khauf (Solāh of Fear ) with the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu
`alayhi wasallam). He arranged us in two rows behind him. The enemy was
between us and the qiblah. The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)
made the takbir and we all made the takbir. He performed the ruku' and we all
made the ruku'. Then, he raised his head from the ruku' and we all raised our
heads from the ruku'. Next he went down for sajdah as well as the row closest
to him, while the back row stood facing the enemy until the Allāh’s Messenger
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) and the first row had completed their
prostrations, after which the back row made sajdah and then stood [after
completing their sujud]. Following this, those in the back row moved to the
front while those in the front row moved to the back. The Allāh’s Messenger
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) performed the ruku’ and we all made ruku’. Then,
he raised his head and we raised our heads from ruku. Afterward, he made the
sajdah and the row that was previously in the back during the first raka`ah
prostrated with him while the [new] back row stood facing the enemy. When the
Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) and the [new] front row had completed
their sujud, the back row made the sujud. Finally, the Allāh’s Messenger
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made the taslim and we all made the Taslim. This
is related by Ahmad, Muslim, an-Nasa`ie, Ibn Majah, and Al-Baihaqi.
1.5- Both of the groups begin the
prayer with the imam, and then one group would guard against the enemy while
the other group would pray one raka`ah with the imam, after which they would
face the enemy while the other group would come and pray one raka`ah by
themselves (individually) while the imam is standing. Then, they would join him
in what is the imam's and their second raka`ah. At that point, the group which
had gone to face the enemy would come and pray one raka'ah (their second)
individually while the others would be sitting (in Solah waiting for them to
sit in their second raka`ah), after which the imam would make the taslim and
both groups would make the taslim together [behind the imam].
Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu)
reports: “I performed Solāh al-Khauf with the Allāh’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) during the year of the Battle of Najd.
He stood to pray 'asar and one group stood with him while the other group was
faced the enemy with their backs toward the qiblah. When he made the takbir,
all the people made the takbir- that is, those with him and those facing the
enemy. Then, he performed one raka`ah and the group with him also performed
their ruku' and sujjud with him while the others were still facing the enemy.
Next, the group which was with the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) went to face the enemy while the other group came and prayed one
raka`ah and the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) kept standing
[in Solāh] as he was. Then, he performed the ruku' and the new group performed
the ruku' with him and he performed the sajdah and they performed the sajdah
with him. After this, the group which had gone to face the enemy came and
prayed one raka`ah while the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)
and those with him were sitting [in prayer]. Finally, the Allāh’s Messenger
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made taslim and both groups made the taslim with
him. The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed two raka`at
and both groups prayed two raka`at.” This is related by Ahmad, Abu
Dawud, and an-Nasa`ie.
1.6- Each group prays only one
raka`ah with the imam and the imam prays a total of two raka`at whereas each
group prays one. Ibn `Abbas (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Allāh’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) prayed at Zhi-qard, and he arranged
the people into two rows, one row behind him and one row guarding against the
enemy. The group behind him prayed one raka`ah (with him) and then left the
place to the other group. The other group then came and prayed one raka`ah (with
the Prophet), and [neither group] made up a raka`ah. This is related by
an-Nasa`ie and Ibn Hibban. Ibn `Abbas (radiyallāhu`anhu) also says: “Allāh made
the prayer obligatory on your Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)
[in the following manner]: four rak'at while resident, two while traveling, and
only one during times of fear.” This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud,
and an-Nasa`ie.
The sunset prayer is not to be
shortened and there is no hadith which states how it is to be prayed during
times of fear. Therefore, the scholars differ over how it is to be performed. The
Hanafi and Maliki schools say that the imam is to pray two raka`at with the
first group and then one rak'ah with the second group. Imam Ash-Shafi`ie and
Imam Ahmad say it is permissible for the imam to pray one raka`ah with the
first group and then two raka`at with the second group as it has been related
that 'Ali performed it in that manner.
If the fear [of the enemy] is great or
fighting is taking place, each person is to pray individually to the best of
his ability - that is, standing or riding, facing the qiblah or not facing the
qiblah, making gestures for the ruku' and sajud- whatever he can do. He should
make the gesture for his sajud lower than that for his ruku’. He is excused
from any of the acts of Solāh which he is unable to perform.
Ibn `Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu)
related: “The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) described Solāh
al-Khauf and said: ‘If the danger is greater than that, then [pray] standing or
riding.”
In Sahih al-Bukhari, the wording is:
“If the danger is greater than that, then pray while standing on your feet or
riding, facing the qiblah or not facing the qiblah.” In Muslim’s version, Ibn
‘Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu) is reported to have said: “If the danger is greater
than that, then pray standing or riding and by making gestures.”
If one is attacking the enemy and
fears that he will miss the time of Solah, he may pray by making gestures even
if he is moving in a direction other than that of the qiblah. The case of the
one who is being attacked is the same as the one who is attacking. The same is
the case for anyone whose enemy prevents him from making the ruku’ or the
sajdah or a person who fears for himself or his family or his wealth from an
enemy or a thief or a wild animal; in all such cases, the person may [if necessary]
pray by making gestures and facing any direction.
Al-`Iraqi writes: “The same applies
to anyone who is fleeing from a flood or fire and has no other option open to
him. The same is true for one who is in straitened conditions and is in debt and
cannot pay it and him fears that his debtor might catch him and imprison him
while not believing his claim. This applies also to one who fears a punishment
of Qisas and hopes that by his absence the prosecuting party’s anger will abate
and they will forgive him.”
‘Abdullah ibn Unais
(radiyallāhu`anhu) reports: “The Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) sent me to Khalid ibn Sufyan al-Hazhili, who was close to ‘Arafat, and
said: ‘Go and kill him.’ I saw him and the time of the afternoon Solāh came
and I said [to myself]: ‘I fear that something between him and me will cause me
to delay the Solah, so I left walking and offered the Solāh by making gestures.
When I came close to him, he said to me: ‘Who are you?’ I said: ‘A man from
among the Arabs. It has reached me that you are gathering the people against
this man [i.e, the Prophet] so I came to you for that reason.’ He said: ‘I am
doing that.’ I walked with him for a while until I could strike him dead with
my sword.” This is related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. Al-Hafiz says its chain is
hasan.
And Allāh Almighty Knows best.
Excerpted from
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2: “The Solat in Times of Fear or Danger (Solāh
al-Khauf)” by Sayyid Sābiq
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