Performing Salah (Prayer) in Dangerous Conditions

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) in fearful conditions. He (the Imam) said, ‘The Imam stands up and one group of his people comes and stands up behind him. The other group faces the enemy. The Imam performs one Rak‘at, then stands up and they also stand up. He remains standing but they perform the second Rak‘at, then say Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to each other and end their Salah (prayer). They then stand up in place of the other group facing the enemy. Now this group comes and stands up behind the Imam who performs the second Rak‘at with them. The Imam then sits down and they stand up to perform another Rak‘at. He then says Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) and they also end their Salah (prayer) with his saying Salam.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘In al-Maghrib they do similarly. The Imam stands up and one group stands up behind him. He then performs one Rak‘at with them, then stands up and they also stand up. The Imam remains standing but they complete the two Rak‘at, say Tashahhud (testimonies of belief), Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to each other and end their Salah (prayer). They then stand guard in place of the other group who joins the Imam for Salah (prayer). He performs with them a Rak‘at with recitation, then sits down and says Tashahhud (testimonies of belief). He then stands up and they also stand up with him. He performs one more Rak‘at with them, then sits down but they stand up to complete another Rak‘at, then he says Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to them to end.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah performed Salah (prayer) with his followers during the armed expedition at Dhat al-Riqa‘ in a fearful condition. The Messenger of Allah divided his companions in two groups. One group was made to stand up facing the enemy and the other group behind him for Salah (prayer). He said Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) and they also did so. He recited and they remained silent. He performed Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and they also did so. He performed Sajdah (prostration), and they also did so. The Messenger of Allah in order to complete remained standing but they performed one Rak‘at for themselves, then they said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to each other. They then went to stand guard in place of the group facing the enemy. This group stood behind the Messenger of Allah who performed one Rak‘at with them, then said Tashahhud (testimonies of belief) and Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to them. They then stood up to perform one Rak‘at for themselves, then said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to each other.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If you are in a land where you are afraid of thieves or beasts, perform Salah (prayer) on your stumper.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is a captive of the pagans. It becomes time for Salah (prayer) and they do not allow him to perform Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘He makes gestures as gestures are made.”’

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about my traveling between Makkah and al-Madinah and in the time of Salah (prayer), we disembark where Arabs are found. Can we perform the obligatory Salah (prayer) on the ground and recite just al-Fatihah, or perform it when riding and recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab and Surah (chapter) as well? He (the Imam) said, ‘If you are afraid, then perform the obligatory Salah (prayer) and other Salah (prayer) on your stumper. If you recite al-Hamd and Surah (chapter) it is more beloved to me and I do not see anything harmful in what you have done.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . if you are afraid then it is on foot or riding. . . .’(2:240), ‘How is this Salah (prayer) performed and what do you say if one is afraid of beasts or thieves?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He says Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) and makes gestures with his head as gestures are made.’”