Chapter: The Prayer of Fear (Ṣalāt al-Khawf)

If the time for prayer comes while one is travelling and the enemy is close at hand, and the Muslims cannot be sure that the enemy will not attack them before they finish—or pounce upon them when only a small part of the prayer remains—and the enemy is not positioned between them and the qiblah, the imam explains how they are to perform the prayer. He then orders the adhān to be given and divides them into two groups: one group keeps its weapons and stands facing the enemy, while the other prays with the imam, also carrying their arms.

When the iqāmah is pronounced, the imam leads the first group in one rakʿah. He then rises for the second rakʿah, remains standing, and lengthens the recitation. If he fears they might become confused, he signals to them; they rise, quietly complete one rakʿah on their own, and give the salām. They then move to the positions of their comrades, and the group that has not yet prayed steps forward and enters the prayer behind the imam. The imam leads them in the rakʿah that remains for him, after which he gives the salām. They then rise and, individually, each performs another rakʿah to make up what they owe.

Alternatively, if the imam wishes, he may prolong his sitting after the tashahhud, supplicating, while they stand and complete a second rakʿah on their own; they then recite the tashahhud, and he gives the salām together with them. Both methods are affirmed by the leading scholars of Medina, and Mālik accepted them both.

If the prayer in question is Maghrib, the imam leads the first group in two rakʿahs; once the tashahhud is completed, they rise and pray