We accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Usfan, and Khalid ibn al-Walid was the chief of unbelievers. We offered the noon prayer. Thereupon, the unbelievers said: We suffered from negligence; we became careless. We should have attacked them while they were praying. Thereupon the verse was revealed, relating to the shortening of the prayer (in time of danger) between the noon and afternoon (prayer). When the time of the afternoon prayer came, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood facing the qiblah, and the unbelievers were standing in front of him. The people stood in a row behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was another row behind this row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bowed and all of them bowed. He then prostrated and also the row near him prostrated. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When they performed two prostrations and stood up, those who were behind them prostrated. The people in the front row near him then stepped backward taking the place of the people in the second row and the second row took the place of the first row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then bowed and all of them bowed together. Then he and the row near him prostrated themselves. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the row near him (i.e. the front row) were seated, the people in the second row behind them prostrated themselves. Then all of them were seated. (He (the Prophet) then uttered the salutation upon all of them. He prayed in his manner at Usfan as well as at the territory of Banu Sulaym. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Ayyub and Hisham from Abu al-Zubair on the authority of Jabir to the same effect from the Prophet ﷺ. Similarly, this has been transmitted by Dawud b. Husain from 'Ikrimah, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas. This has also been reported by 'Abd al-Malik, from 'Ata' from Jabir in like manner. This has also been narrated by Qatadah from al-Hasan from Hittan on the authority of Abu Musa in a similar way. Similarly, this has been reported by 'Ikrimah b. Khalid from Mujahid from the Prophet ﷺ. This has also been reported by Hisham b. 'Urwah from his father from the Prophet ﷺ. This is the opinion of al-Thawri. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1236)   

كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِعُسْفَانَ وَعَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ فَصَلَّيْنَا الظُّهْرَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَقَدْ أَصَبْنَا غِرَّةً لَقَدْ أَصَبْنَا غَفَلَةً لَوْ كُنَّا حَمَلَنَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْقَصْرِ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرْتِ الْعَصْرُ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ أَمَامَهُ فَصَفَّ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صَفٌّ وَصَفَّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الصَّفِّ صَفٌّ آخَرُ فَرَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الْآخَرُونَ يَحْرُسُونَهُمْ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى هَؤُلَاءِ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ وَقَامُوا سَجَدَ الْآخَرُونَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا خَلْفَهُمْ ثُمَّ تَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ إِلَى مَقَامِ الْآخَرِينَ وَتَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْأَخِيرُ إِلَى مَقَامِ الصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الْآخَرُونَ يَحْرُسُونَهُمْ فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ سَجَدَ الْآخَرُونَ ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا جَمِيعًا فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَمِيعًا فَصَلَّاهَا بِعُسْفَانَ وَصَلَّاهَا يَوْمَ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ وَحَدِيثُ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَحْيَى بِمَعْنَاهُ وَفِيهِ مِنَ الزِّيَادَةِ فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ السِّلَاحَ وَصَفُّوا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صَفَّينِ مُسْتَقْبِلِي الْقِبْلَةَ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ مُسْتَقْبِلُوهُمْ فَكَبَّرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَكَبِّرُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَرَفَعُوا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَالْبَاقِي بِمَعْنَاهُ وَهَذَا إِسْنَادٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ  

[Machine] I witnessed the prayer of fear with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . So we lined up behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in two rows, and the enemy was between us and the qiblah. The Prophet ﷺ made takbeer, and we all made takbeer. Then he bowed and we all bowed. Then he raised his head and we all raised our heads. Then the Prophet ﷺ prostrated, along with the row behind him, and the last row stood in the necks of the enemies. When the Prophet ﷺ finished his prostration and the row behind him, the last row prostrated. When they finished their prostration and stood up, the last row moved forward and the front row moved back. Then he bowed and we all bowed. Then he raised his head and we all raised our heads. Then the Prophet ﷺ prostrated, along with the row behind him, the front row which was initially behind in the first unit. When he finished his prostration and the row behind him, the last row prostrated. Jābir said, "This is how your guards act with their commanders." 6027  

شَهِدْتُ صَلَاةَ الْخَوْفِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَفَفْنَا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صَفَّينِ وَكَانَ الْعَدُوُّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ فَكَبَّرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَكَبَّرْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ وَرَفَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ انْحَدَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالسُّجُودِ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فِي نَحْرِ الْعَدُوِّ فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ السُّجُودَ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامُوا انْحَدَرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَلَمَّا قَضَوْا سُجُودَهُمْ وَقَامُوا تَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ وَتَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُقَدَّمُ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ وَرَفَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ انْحَدَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالسُّجُودِ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فِي نَحْرِ الْعَدُوِّ فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ السُّجُودَ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامُوا انْحَدَرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَلَمَّا قَضَوْا سُجُودَهُمْ وَقَامُوا تَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ وَتَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُقَدَّمُ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ وَرَفَعْنَا جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ انْحَدَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالسُّجُودِ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ الْمُقَدَّمُ الَّذِي كَانَ مُؤَخَّرًا فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُولَى فَلَمَّا قَضَى السُّجُودَ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ انْحَدَرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَسَجَدُوا قَالَ جَابِرٌ كَمَا يَصْنَعُ حَرَسُكُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ بِأُمَرَائِهِمْ 6027 وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو صَالِحٍ أنبأ جَدِّي ثنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ ثنا يَحْيَى يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانَ ثنا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ ثنا عَطَاءٌ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ أَنَّهُ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صَلَاةَ الْخَوْفِ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَاهُ وَزَادَ فِي آخِرِهِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ وَسَلَّمْنَا جَمِيعًا قَالَ جَابِرٌ كَمَا يَفْعَلُ حَرَسُكُمْ هَذَا بِأُمَرَائِهِمْ  

We fought In the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with the tribe of Juhaina. They fought with us terribly. When we had finished the noon prayer, the polytheists said: Had we attacked them at once. we would have killed them. Gabriel informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about It (about their evil design). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a mention of it to us, adding that they (the polytheists) had also said: Shortly there would be time for the 'Asr prayer. which is dearer o them (the Muslims) than even their children. So when the time of the 'Asr prayer came. we formed ourselves into two rows, while the polytheists were between us and the Qibla. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah is Most Great, and we also said so. He bowed and we also bowed. He went down in prostration and the first row prostrated along with him. When they stood up, the second row went down in prostration. Then the first row went into the rear, and the second row came in the front and occupied the place of the first row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said: Allah is Most Great, and we also said so. He then bowed, and we also bowed. He then went down in prostration and along with him the row also (went down in prostration), and the second row remained standing. And when the second row had also prostrated and all of them sat down then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pronounced salutation to them. Abu Zubair said: Jabir made a mention specially of this thing: just as your chiefs observe prayer. (Using translation from Muslim 840b)   

غَزَوْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَوْمًا مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ فَقَاتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْنَا الظُّهْرَ قَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَوْ مِلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَيْلَةً لَاقْتَطَعْنَاهُمْ فَأَخْبَرَ جَبْرَئِيلُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَقَالُوا إِنَّهُ سَيَأْتِيهِمْ صَلَاةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْأَوْلَادِ يَعْنِي الْعَصْرَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ صَفَّنَا صَفَّينِ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ قَالَ فَكَبَّرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَكَبَّرْنَا وَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ مَعَهُ الصَّفُّ الْأَوَّلِ فَلَمَّا قَامُوا سَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الثَّانِي ثُمَّ تَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الْأَوَّلُ وَتَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الثَّانِي فَقَامُوا مَقَامَ الْأَوَّلِ فَكَبَّرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَكَبَّرْنَا وَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدَ مَعَهُ الصَّفُّ الْأَوَّلُ وَقَامَ الثَّانِي فَلَمَّا سَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الثَّانِي ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا جَمِيعًا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ ثُمَّ خَصَّ جَابِرٌ أَنْ قَالَ كَمَا يُصَلِّي أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ  

[Machine] The Prophet of Allah ﷺ stood up, and the people stood up with him. He said the takbir (saying "Allahu Akbar") and they also said takbir. Then he went into the ruku' (bowing position) and they went into ruku' with him, some of them. Then he went into sujud (prostration) and they went into sujud. Then he stood up for the second raka'ah (unit of prayer) and those who had prostrated with him stayed back and guarded their brothers. Then another group came and they went into ruku' and sujud with the Prophet ﷺ , and all the people were in prayer, saying takbir, but some of them were guarding each other. Abu Bakr ibn al-Harith al-Faqih informed us, Ali ibn 'Umar al-Hafiz narrated to us, Ibn Sa'id narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Awf narrated to us, Haywah ibn Shuraih narrated to us, and Muhammad ibn Harb mentioned it with its chain of narration in a similar manner.  

قَامَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَامَ النَّاسُ مَعَهُ فَكَبَّرَ وَكَبَّرُوا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعَ مَعَهُ نَاسٌ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَسَجَدُوا ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَتَأَخَّرَ الَّذِينَ سَجَدُوا مَعَهُ وَحَرَسُوا إِخْوَانَهُمْ فَأَتَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الْأُخْرَى فَرَكَعُوا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَسَجَدُوا وَالنَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ فِي صَلَاةٍ يُكَبِّرُونَ وَلَكِنْ يَحْرُسُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا 6030 أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْفَقِيهُ أنبأ عَلِيُّ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَافِظُ ثنا ابْنُ صَاعِدٍ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ ثنا حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ فَذَكَرَهُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah commanded the prayer of fear, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood and we stood behind him in two rows. He said the takbir and bowed, and we all bowed in both rows. Then he raised his head and then prostrated, and the row behind him prostrated, while the others remained standing guarding their brothers. When he finished his prostration and stood up, the rear row prostrated, so they made two prostrations. Then they stood up and the front row, which was behind him, moved forward and bowed, and we all bowed. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the row behind him prostrated, while the others remained standing guarding their brothers. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down, the rear row prostrated, and they prostrated. Then the Prophet ﷺ gave the salutation, and this is how it was.  

أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِصَلَاةِ الْخَوْفِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقُمْنَا خَلْفَهُ صَفَّينِ فَكَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعْنَا جَمِيعًا الصَّفَّانِ كِلَاهُمَا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَّ سَاجِدًا وَسَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَثَبَتَ الْآخَرُونَ قِيَامًا يَحْرُسُونَ إِخْوَانَهُمْ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ سُجُودِهِ وَقَامَ خَرَّ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ سُجُودًا فَسَجَدُوا سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامُوا فَتَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُقَدَّمُ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَتَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعُوا جَمِيعًا وَسَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَثَبَتَ الْآخَرُونَ قِيَامًا يَحْرُسُونَ إِخْوَانَهُمْ فَلَمَّا قَعَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَرَّ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ سُجُودًا فَسَجَدُوا ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَكَذَلِكَ  

"The fear prayer was no more than two prostrations like the prayer of these guards of yours today behind the Imams of yours, except that it was one group after another. One group stood, although they were all behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and one group prostrated with him, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up and they all stood with him. Then he bowed and they all bowed with him, then he prostrated and those who had been standing the first time prostrated with him. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and those who had prostrated with him at the end of their prayer sat, those who had been standing prostrated by themselves, then they sat and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said the taslim with all of them. (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1535)   

عَقِبًا قَامَتْ طَائِفَةٌ وَهُمْ جَمِيعٌ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَسَجَدَتْ مَعَهُ طَائِفَةٌ ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَسَجَدَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قِيَامًا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَامُوا مَعَهُ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعُوا مَعَهُ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَسَجَدَ مَعَهُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قِيَامًا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَقَامَ الْآخَرُونَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا سَجَدُوا مَعَهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالَّذِينَ سَجَدُوا مَعَهُ فِي آخِرِ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَجَدَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قِيَامًا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا فَجَمَعَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِالسَّلَامِ