There is an opinion regarding the prayer of fear that states it was prescribed specifically during the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : There is an opinion regarding the prayer of fear that states it was prescribed specifically during the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), based on the saying of Allah the Exalted [An-Nisa 4:102] the verse. The wisdom of its prescription during his life (peace and blessings be upon him) was that each group would attain the virtue of praying behind him (peace and blessings be upon him), and they were eager to attain this virtue. This matter ceased after him (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) because every group is able to perform the prayer with a specific imam. Therefore, it is not permissible to perform it in a manner involving going and coming or the like, which contradicts the manner of prayer in a state of safety. What is the correct view on this? Is the presence of the enemy a condition for performing the prayer of fear? I also ask your eminence for a brief explanation of its manner.
The Shaykh : The correct view in this matter is that the prayer of fear remains valid until the Day of Resurrection.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because what the Prophet (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) prescribed remains as long as his Ummah (the Muslim community) remains. If we were to restrict rulings to his lifetime with such justifications, we would open a great door through which many prescribed matters would be closed. The correct view is that the prayer of fear remains, and for this reason, the Rightly Guided Caliphs and the imams of the Muslims after them have continued to practice it without objection.
As for the manner of the prayer of fear, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in six or seven ways, all of which are permissible according to the situation that is appropriate for guarding against the enemy and avoiding its harm. One of them is that the imam divides the army into two groups. He prays one rak'ah (a unit of prayer) with one group. When he stands for the second rak'ah, they complete it for themselves and then turn to face the enemy.
The questioner : Meaning, one group prays and the other guards?
The Shaykh : Yes, then the second group, which was facing the enemy, comes and prays the second rak'ah with the imam, because the imam is still standing. When they pray the second rak'ah with him and he sits for the tashahhud (the testification recited while sitting in prayer), they stand before the imam says the taslim (the closing salam of prayer) and perform the remaining rak'ah. Then the imam says the taslim with them. In this case, the imam has balanced between the two groups: the first group attained the takbir al-ihram (saying Allahu akbar) with him, and the second group attained the taslim with him. This is one manner.
The second manner is when the enemy is in the direction of the qiblah (the direction of prayer) in front of them; he lines up the army in two rows for the prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He starts the prayer with them, says the takbir, and bows, and they all bow. When he prostrates, the first row prostrates with him, and the second row remains standing for guarding. When he stands for the second rak'ah, the rear row prostrates. Then, when they stand, the front row moves back and the rear row moves forward. Then the front row does what the front row did in the first rak'ah, meaning they all bow. When they prostrate, the front row prostrates with the imam, and the rear row remains standing. When the imam sits for the tashahhud, the rear row prostrates, then they sit for the tashahhud and say the taslim together.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But this is only when the enemy is in front of them and they do not fear an ambush coming from behind. If they fear that, they pray as in the first manner. There are other manners mentioned in the books of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).
The questioner : Yes.
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer
وإذا كنت فيهم فأقمت لهم الصلاةThe Shaykh : The correct view in this matter is that the prayer of fear remains valid until the Day of Resurrection.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because what the Prophet (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) prescribed remains as long as his Ummah (the Muslim community) remains. If we were to restrict rulings to his lifetime with such justifications, we would open a great door through which many prescribed matters would be closed. The correct view is that the prayer of fear remains, and for this reason, the Rightly Guided Caliphs and the imams of the Muslims after them have continued to practice it without objection.
As for the manner of the prayer of fear, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in six or seven ways, all of which are permissible according to the situation that is appropriate for guarding against the enemy and avoiding its harm. One of them is that the imam divides the army into two groups. He prays one rak'ah (a unit of prayer) with one group. When he stands for the second rak'ah, they complete it for themselves and then turn to face the enemy.
The questioner : Meaning, one group prays and the other guards?
The Shaykh : Yes, then the second group, which was facing the enemy, comes and prays the second rak'ah with the imam, because the imam is still standing. When they pray the second rak'ah with him and he sits for the tashahhud (the testification recited while sitting in prayer), they stand before the imam says the taslim (the closing salam of prayer) and perform the remaining rak'ah. Then the imam says the taslim with them. In this case, the imam has balanced between the two groups: the first group attained the takbir al-ihram (saying Allahu akbar) with him, and the second group attained the taslim with him. This is one manner.
The second manner is when the enemy is in the direction of the qiblah (the direction of prayer) in front of them; he lines up the army in two rows for the prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He starts the prayer with them, says the takbir, and bows, and they all bow. When he prostrates, the first row prostrates with him, and the second row remains standing for guarding. When he stands for the second rak'ah, the rear row prostrates. Then, when they stand, the front row moves back and the rear row moves forward. Then the front row does what the front row did in the first rak'ah, meaning they all bow. When they prostrate, the front row prostrates with the imam, and the rear row remains standing. When the imam sits for the tashahhud, the rear row prostrates, then they sit for the tashahhud and say the taslim together.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But this is only when the enemy is in front of them and they do not fear an ambush coming from behind. If they fear that, they pray as in the first manner. There are other manners mentioned in the books of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).
The questioner : Yes.