Sunan an-Nasa'i #1540
The Book of the Fear Prayer
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمِّي، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي دَاوُدُ بْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ مَا كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ الْخَوْفِ إِلاَّ سَجْدَتَيْنِ كَصَلاَةِ أَحْرَاسِكُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الْيَوْمَ خَلْفَ أَئِمَّتِكُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ إِلاَّ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ عُقَبًا قَامَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ وَهُمْ جَمِيعًا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَسَجَدَتْ مَعَهُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَامُوا مَعَهُ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَرَكَعُوا مَعَهُ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَسَجَدَ مَعَهُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قِيَامًا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالَّذِينَ سَجَدُوا مَعَهُ فِي آخِرِ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَجَدَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قِيَامًا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا فَجَمَعَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالتَّسْلِيمِ .
"The fear prayer was no more than two prostrations like the prayer of these guards of yours today behind the Imams of yours, except that it was one group after another. One group stood, although they were all behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and one group prostrated with him, then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and they all stood with him. Then he bowed and they all bowed with him, then he prostrated and those who had been standing the first time prostrated with him. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and those who had prostrated with him at the end of their prayer sat, those who had been standing prostrated by themselves, then they sat and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the taslim with all of them.
Narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:
Context
In this hadith, Ibn 'Abbas describes the practice of the fear prayer, which consists of two prostrations. This method was employed during times of danger or uncertainty, highlighting the adaptability of prayer in various circumstances. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrated how to maintain worship even in challenging situations.
Modern Application
Today, Muslims can draw inspiration from this practice by turning to prayer during times of distress or fear. It serves as a reminder that faith can provide solace and strength in difficult moments.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it illustrates a specific form of prayer that addresses the needs of the community during times of fear, reinforcing the importance of worship in all circumstances.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
سُورَةُ الجِنِّ
Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا
And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًۭا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ
Al-An'aam (The Cattle)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَأَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And to establish prayer and fear Him." And it is He to whom you will be gathered.
Common Words
115 total94 unique13 repeated
ٱلصلوة5x
فإذا4x
ٱلله4x
إن3x
طائفة2x
معك2x
وليأخذوا2x
من2x
لم2x
أسلحتكم2x
عليكم2x
أو2x
فٱذكروا2x
وإذا1x
كنت1x
فيهم1x
فأقمت1x
لهم1x
فلتقم1x
منهم1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #1540 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of the Fear Prayer. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:.