the prayer and give the alms-due, then let them go their way.” (9:5)

Thus, once they repent and commit themselves to the prayer, the fighting against them is suspended. That commitment marks the beginning of establishing the prayer; when they actually perform it, they have completed its establishment. If, however, they pledge it merely in words but fail to perform it, they are to be fought.

Evidence for this is the report authenticated in both Ṣaḥīḥ collections stating that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prostrated at that verse during the prayer. In the Two Ṣaḥīḥs it is narrated from Abū Rāfiʿ: “I performed the late-night prayer (al-ʿatamah) with Abū Hurayrah. He recited, ‘When the sky is split open’ (Sūrat al-Inshiqāq), and he prostrated. I asked, ‘What is this?’ He replied, ‘I prostrated at this verse behind Abū al-Qāsim, and I shall continue to prostrate at it until I meet him.’” The scholars are unanimous regarding the authenticity of this ḥadīth.

As for the actual prostration of the Prophet within that surah, it is recorded by Muslim alone and not by al-Bukhārī.