Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the prayer of fear. He (peace be upon him) led some people in two rak‘ahs of prayer and said the salam. These people left, and others came and stood in their place. Then he (peace be upon him) led them in two rak‘ahs of prayer and said the salam. Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed four rak‘ahs, and the people performed two each.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went to the valley of Nakhl to fight the people of Muharib Khasafah. When those people observed some heedlessness among the Muslims, an enemy named Ghawrath bin Harith found an opportunity and came upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with a sword over his head and said: Who will save you from me? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: Allah. At that moment, the sword fell from his hand. Now the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) picked up the sword and said: Now who will save you from me? He said: Become the best man to hold this sword (i.e., do me a favor). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: Do you bear witness that Allah alone is the true deity? He said: No. However, I promise you that I will neither come against you nor support those who fight you. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) let him go. He returned to his companions and said: I have come from the best of men. Then, when the time for Zuhr or Asr came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf). The people were divided into two groups: one group remained facing the enemy, and the other group began to pray with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led this group in two rak‘ahs of prayer, then they left and stood in place of the other group, i.e., facing the enemy, and those people came for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also led them in two rak‘ahs. In this way, the people each performed two rak‘ahs, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed four.

(Second chain) They say: We traveled with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, until we reached the place of Dhat al-Riqa’. Whenever we came upon a shady tree, we would leave it for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Then a polytheist came while the sword of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was hanging on the tree. He took the sword, drew it, and said:“Do you fear me?”He replied:“No.”He said:“Then who will save you from me now?”The companions began to rebuke him, so he sheathed the sword and hung it back. Meanwhile, the call to prayer was given. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led a group in two units of prayer, then they left. Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, led the other group in two units of prayer. In this way, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed four units, and the people prayed two each.