It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the prayer of fear in a region of Banu Sulaym, Dhi Qarad. The people formed two rows behind him; one row remained facing the enemy and one stood behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The row that was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he led them in one rak‘ah, then these people moved to the place of the others and those came to their place, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in the remaining one rak‘ah. In another narration, it is stated: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed two rak‘ahs and each group performed one rak‘ah.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in the prayer of fear. (Its manner was that) one row stood in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and one behind him. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led those behind him in one rak‘ah including two prostrations. Then they moved forward and stood in the place of the other group, and the others came and stood (behind the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him) in their place. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in one rak‘ah including two prostrations and then gave salam. Thus, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed two rak‘ahs and each of them performed one.

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, camped between Dajnan and Usfan. The polytheists said: The Muslims love the Asr prayer even more than their forefathers and children. Make full preparations; we must launch a sudden attack on them. Meanwhile, Jibreel (Gabriel), peace be upon him, came and instructed the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to divide his companions into two groups: lead one group in prayer while the other group stands behind them holding their protective gear and weapons; then let the second group pray with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while the first group takes up their protective gear and weapons. In this way, each group will perform one rak‘ah with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, will complete two rak‘ahs.

Mukhmal bin Dimas says: I participated in a battle with Saeed bin Aas. He asked the people: 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 bin Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I have performed it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, led one group in one rak’ah while the other group stood facing the enemy. These people (after performing one rak’ah) went and stood in the place of their companions facing the enemy. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then led them in one rak’ah and then concluded the prayer with salam. Thus, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed two rak’ahs and each group performed one each.

Salih bin Khawwat narrates from a companion who performed the prayer of fear with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of Dhat al-Riqa’. He narrated that one group formed a row with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), while the other group remained facing the enemy. Those who were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he led them in one rak’ah, then he stood for such a duration that those people completed the second rak’ah by themselves, then they left and stood facing the enemy. The other group came and they performed the remaining rak’ah with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he sat for such a duration that these people completed their second rak’ah (and sat in tashahhud), then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave salam. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) says: Of all the forms of the prayer of fear that I have heard, this method is the most preferable to me.

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Abi Hathmah رضي الله عنه narrates attributing to the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: The Imam will stand for prayer, and one row will stand behind him and one row will stand in front of him (i.e., facing the enemy). The Imam will lead those behind him in one rak‘ah including two prostrations, then he will remain standing until these people complete the second rak‘ah by themselves. In one narration it is stated: Then the Imam will sit in his place until they complete the second rak‘ah and two prostrations and go to the place of their companions, and they (the others) come and stand (behind the Imam) in the place of the first ones. Then he will lead them in one rak‘ah including two prostrations, and then he will sit until they complete the second rak‘ah by themselves, then the Imam will say salam upon them.

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.

Marwan bin Hakam asked Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) whether he had performed the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf) with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He replied: Yes. He asked: When? He said: On the occasion of the Battle of Najd. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood for the Asr prayer, one group stood with him and the other group faced the enemy, with their backs towards the Qiblah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said the Takbir and all the people said the Takbir with him. But when he (peace and blessings be upon him) bowed (for Ruku), the row that was with him bowed with him, and when he (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the prostrations (Sujood), those people performed the prostrations with him. Meanwhile, the other group remained standing in front of the enemy. Then, after the prostrations, when he (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up (for the second Rak‘ah), these people got up from the prostrations and went to face the enemy, and that group came to the place of this group (behind the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him). These people came and performed the bowing and prostrations (of the first Rak‘ah), while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remained standing. Then these people stood up and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the second Rak‘ah, and these people performed the bowing and prostrations with him. Then the group that had been standing in front of the enemy came and performed the bowing and prostrations (of the second Rak‘ah), while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and those praying with him remained seated. Then there was the Salam; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said the Salam and all those people also said the Salam. In this way, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also performed two Rak‘ahs, and every man from both groups also performed two Rak‘ahs.