392 – Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The prayer of fear is one rakʿah, in whatever form it is performed.” Al-Bazzār transmitted it with a weak chain of transmission (1).

Degree of the hadith:
The report is weak. Al-Shāfiʿī said, “It is not established,” and Ibn Ḥajar also declared it weak. Al-Haythamī remarked, “Among its transmitters is Ibn al-Baylamānī, and he is weak.” Nevertheless, the preceding sound report serves as an authentic supporting narration.
In al-Talkhīṣ it is stated: “Imām Aḥmad said, ‘I do not know of any authentic hadith in this chapter.’”
Al-Athram said: “I asked Abū ʿAbd Allāh Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, ‘Do you act upon all the reports concerning the prayer of fear, or do you choose one of them?’ He replied, may Allah have mercy on him, ‘Whoever acts on all of them has done well, but I prefer the hadith of Sahl ibn Abī Ḥathmah.’”
Kashshāf al-Qināʿ adds: “The hadith of Sahl to which Imām Aḥmad referred is the Prophet’s prayer at Dhāt al-Riqāʿ.”

Lessons derived from the two hadiths:
1 – In this form of the prayer he led one group of his Companions in a single rakʿah, then led the other group in another rakʿah.
2 – The hadith is explicit that they prayed only one rakʿah and did not make up a second rakʿah afterward.
3 – The hadith was declared authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Ḥibbān, and Abū Dāwūd remained silent about it, and he does not remain silent