We say: If necessity requires them to pray at a time when they fear the enemy, then they should perform the prayer in the manner most closely resembling the forms reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, if those reported forms cannot be carried out, for Allah the Exalted says:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.” [al-Taghābun 64:16]

Issue: If fear becomes intense, is it permissible to delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time?

The scholars differ over this. Some say that it is not permissible to delay the prayer beyond its time, even when fear is intense. Rather, they should pray while fleeing or pursuing, facing the qiblah or otherwise, and indicate the bowing and prostration by gestures, due to His saying:

“And if you fear, then pray on foot or riding.” [al-Baqarah 2:236]

Others say that it is permissible to delay the prayer beyond its time when fear becomes intense, such that a person is unable to comprehend what he is saying or doing. That is, if he can comprehend what he says or does in the prayer, then he must pray in whatever condition he is in. But if arrows and bullets are coming at him from every direction, and his heart cannot settle and he does not know what he is saying, then in this case it is permissible to delay the prayer. This is based on “the Prophet’s delaying the prayer during the Battle of the Confederates” (1): was this abrogated, or does its ruling remain operative?

The correct view is that its ruling remains operative when extreme necessity calls for it—that is, when people are unable to remain still. In reality, this is something we cannot grasp while we are in this place; rather, it is understood by one who is on the battlefield.