I have already explained in the book Ma‘ani al-Qur’an that Allah Almighty’s statement: «‏‏‏‏فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ» ‏‏‏‏ [ سورة النساء: 102 ] “You ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) stand to lead them in prayer”can have two meanings.

If you led them in prayer, and the second meaning is if you commanded the establishment of the prayer for the gathering of the people for prayer, and I have informed that this meaning is of the same kind that we have mentioned in other places in our books: that the Arabs attribute the action to the command as they attribute it to the doer, so if the imam commands the mu’adhdhin to establish the prayer, it is permissible to say: he established the prayer, since he is the one who commanded it, so it was established by his command.

Yazid Al-Faqir narrates that he heard from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them), when he was asked whether the prayer in travel is shortened to two rak‘ahs? He replied, "No. Indeed, in travel, the two rak‘ahs are not a shortened prayer; rather, the shortened prayer is during war, when only one rak‘ah is performed." Then he said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the iqamah for prayer was called, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and a group stood behind him, while another group was lined up facing the enemy. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the group behind him in one rak‘ah with two prostrations. Then they left, and those who were facing the enemy took their place. Then that group came, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in one rak‘ah and two prostrations as well. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said the salam, so those who were standing behind him also said the salam, and the group that was facing the enemy also said the salam." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the statement of Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that there is no shortened prayer of two rak‘ahs in travel, by this he means that those two rak‘ahs are not a shortened prayer for the traveler (rather, it is the complete prayer for the traveler).

Salim bin Abd al-Salwali narrates that we were with Sayyiduna Sa'id bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) in Tabaristan, and with him were some of the noble Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He asked the other Companions, "Has any of you performed the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf) with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "I have." Then, while describing the method of the prayer of fear, he said: "Order your companions to stand in two groups. One group should line up facing the enemy, and the other group should form a row behind you. Then you say the takbir, and they all say the takbir and begin the prayer. Then you bow (ruku‘), and they also bow. Then you rise from ruku‘, and they all rise. Then you prostrate, and the group closest to you should prostrate, while the other group remains standing facing the enemy. Then, when you raise your head from prostration, those near you should stand, and the other group should prostrate. Then you bow (ruku‘), and they all bow. Then you prostrate, and the group closest to you should prostrate, while the other group remains standing facing the enemy. Then, when you raise your head from prostration, those standing before the enemy should prostrate. Then you all say the salam together. And instruct your companions that if a fierce attack is made upon them, then fighting and speaking will become permissible for them."

Allah Almighty says: «‏‏‏‏فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا» ‏‏‏‏ [ سورة البقرة: 239 ] "Then if you are in a state of fear, pray on foot or while riding."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when he was asked about the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf), he would narrate a lengthy hadith and say: Then, if the fear becomes even more severe, you should pray standing on your feet or riding, facing the Qiblah or not facing the Qiblah. Nafi’ narrates that Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that when the students of Imam Malik narrated this from him, he said: Nafi’ said,“In my opinion, Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).”

The Imam, with his chain of narration, has narrated from Imam Malik the narration of Imam Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه that the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the companions in the Maghrib prayer (as a prayer of fear) with three rak‘ahs, then after finishing the prayer, another group came, so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led them also in three rak‘ahs. In this way, the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed six rak‘ahs, and the companions performed three rak‘ahs each.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that this verse «‏‏‏‏إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَن تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ» ‏‏‏‏ [ سورة النساء: 102 ] "If you are troubled because of rain or you are ill (then pray after putting down your weapons)" was revealed at the time when Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was wounded.