The third is that it means shortening the prayer from four rak‘ahs to two in circumstances of fear.
The fourth is that it means shortening it from two rak‘ahs to one in circumstances of fear. This accords with the report that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led each group in one rak‘ah, and they did not make up any further rak‘ahs.
The fifth is that it means shortening the prayer from four rak‘ahs to two during travel, even without fear, in accordance with the report from ‘Alī (may Allah Most High be pleased with him), who said:
“A group of merchants asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we travel through the land; how should we pray?’ Allah, Almighty and Majestic, then revealed: ‘When you travel through the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer.’ [al-Nisā’: 101] Then revelation ceased. A year later, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went on a military expedition and offered the noon prayer. The polytheists said, ‘Muhammad and his Companions gave you an opportunity to attack them from behind. Why did you not charge at them?’ One of them said, ‘They have another prayer just like it immediately afterwards.’ Between the two prayers, Allah Most High then revealed: ‘If you fear that those who disbelieve may attack you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever a clear enemy to you.’ [al-Nisā’: 101] ‘And when you are among them and lead them in prayer’ [al-Nisā’: 102], to the end of the verse. Thus the prayer of fear was revealed.”
Al-Tabarī said: “This would be a sound interpretation of the verse were it not for the word idhā (‘when’), for idhā indicates a break in meaning between what follows it and what precedes it. Without idhā, the passage would mean: ‘If you fear, O believers, that those who disbelieve may attack you during your prayer, and you, O Muhammad, are among them and lead them in prayer, then let a group of them stand with you’—and so on to the end of the verse.”
The sixth view is that it refers to the prayer of fear explained in the following verse, in His words, Most High:
“And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand with you.” [al-Nisā’: 102]
This is understood according to the differing forms reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): he led each group in two rak‘ahs, making four for him and two for each group; or he led each group in one rak‘ah, without their making up anything further, making two for him and one for each group; or he led each group in one rak‘ah, after which they all completed one rak‘ah each following his salām (peace and blessings be upon him); or he led each group in one rak‘ah, with the first group completing its prayer before the second arrived, and the second completing its prayer either before or after the imam’s salām. Or according to