The Book of Prayer
Prayer of Fear

Chapter on the Prayer of Fear 366


366. It is permissible by agreement due to the proofs in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah (ST) says:

{When you (O Messenger Muhammad) are among them and lead them in the prayer, let one party of them stand up [in prayer] with you, taking their arms with them. When they finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party, which has not yet prayed, come up, and let them pray with you, taking all the precautions and bearing arms. The disbelievers wish that you should be heedless of your weapons and your baggage so that they may descend upon you all at once, but there is no sin on you if you put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because you are ill, but take every precaution for yourselves. Verily, Allah has prepared a humiliating torment for the disbelievers.} (an-Nisâ’ 4: 102)

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِن وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَن تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا


Imam Aḥmad said that there are 7 sound reports about the prayer of fear or peril; following any one of them is permissible.

This shows us the flexibility and practicality of our religion. The leader may thus choose the form that is most suitable; if the fear intensifies, then they can pray individually, walking or riding as in the verse, facing the qibla or not.

We also learn the importance that Islam gives not only to the prayers but also to prayers in congregation, to the point of praying while in the midst of war and even when there is intense fear and peril. Is it then justifiable for someone to delay the prayers and make them all up at the end of the day?

بَابُ صَلاَةِ الْخَوْفِ

The prayer of fear is permissible in any form in which it was conducted by the Messenger of Allah (SA).

وَتَجُوْزُ صَلاَةُ الْخَوْفِ عَلَى كُلِّ صِفَةٍ صَلاَّهَا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ .

The preferred way is for the imam to divide them [the army] into two groups. One group guards while the other prays one rak‘ah with him; when he rises for the second, that group should intend to stop following his leadership, and they complete their prayer then go to guard. Then the other group comes and prays the second rak‘ah with him; 367 when he sits down for the tashahhud, they rise to perform the other rak‘ah. He waits until they finish their tashahhud, then makes tasleem with them.

وَالْمُخْتَارُ مِنْهَا: أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُمُ الإِمَامُ طَائِفَتَيْنِ، طَائِفَةً تَحْرُسُ، وَالأُخْرَى تُصَلِّيْ مَعَهُ رَكْعَةً، فَإِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الثَّانِيَةِ، نَوَتْ مُفَارَقَتَهُ وَأَتَمَّتْ صَلاَتَهَا، وَذَهَبَتْ تَحْرُسُ، وَجَاءَتِ الأُخْرَى، فَصَلَّتْ مَعَهُ الرَّكْعَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ، فَإِذَا جَلَسَ لِلتَّشَهُّدِ، قَامَتْ فَأَتَتْ بِرَكْعَةٍ أُخْرَى، وَيَنْتَظِرُهَا حَتَّى تَتَشَهَّدَ، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ بِهَا.

If the fear escalates considerably, they pray walking or riding, facing the qibla or not. They nod for the bowing and the prostration. Likewise, anyone who fears for himself may pray as his condition permits and may do what he needs to

وَإِنِ اشْتَدَّ الْخَوْفُ صَلَّوْا رِجَالاً وَرُكْبَانًا إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ، وَإِلَى غَيْرِهَا، يُوْمِئُوْنَ بِالرُّكُوْعِ وَالسُّجُوْدِ. وَكَذٰلِكَ كُلُّ خَائِفٍ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، يُصَلِّيْ عَلَى حَسَبِ حَالِهِ، وَيَفْعَلُ كُلَّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى فِعْلِهِ، مِنْ


Finally, if anyone is more deserving of divine assistance and protection, it is those who sacrifice their lives for Allah’s cause, while they are sick and when they are in prayer. Allah still tells them, “But take every precaution for yourselves.” This shows that we must respect His universal order. If we were guaranteed victory and physical protection in this life, the test of life would be void, and all people would be believers.


367. He will have been waiting for them.

do in terms of escaping and other acts. 368

هَرَبٍ، أَوْ غَيْرِهِ.


368. This is to clarify that this applies not only in times of war. It could apply to anyone who is experiencing fear for his own safety, family, or property.