jihad at that moment would not entail any manifest harm, just as postponing the prayer would not entail any manifest harm.
93- Were completing the prayer ranked higher than waging jihad, one would have to abandon jihad whenever it became clear that the prayer could not be carried out in full.
Reducing the number of units and shortening the actions
94- The mass-transmitted Sunnah makes it clear that jihad retains precedence even though the prayer performed during it is abbreviated—its actions being curtailed, which results in a reduction of units. Cutting down the number of units is the practice legislated for travel, whereas abbreviating the actions is the practice legislated for fear.¹
95- Hence, when travel and fear coincide, an unrestricted concession to shorten the prayer is prescribed, as in His statement: “When you travel through the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve may afflict you” (Q 4:101).
96- The verse is to be understood according to its apparent sense: the unrestricted concession—embracing both a reduction in units and an abbreviation of actions—applies only when the two circumstances come together.