The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُجَاهِدًا، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ الزُّرَقِيِّ، قَالَ شُعْبَةُ كَتَبَ بِهِ إِلَىَّ وَقَرَأْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَمِعْتُهُ مِنْهُ يُحَدِّثُ وَلَكِنِّي حَفِظْتُهُ قَالَ ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ حِفْظِي مِنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ مُصَافَّ الْعَدُوِّ بِعُسْفَانَ وَعَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الظُّهْرَ قَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنَّ لَهُمْ صَلاَةً بَعْدَ هَذِهِ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَبْنَائِهِمْ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعَصْرَ فَصَفَّهُمْ صَفَّيْنِ خَلْفَهُ فَرَكَعَ بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَمِيعًا فَلَمَّا رَفَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ سَجَدَ بِالصَّفِّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الآخَرُونَ فَلَمَّا رَفَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ مِنَ السُّجُودِ سَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ بِرُكُوعِهِمْ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ تَأَخَّرَ الصَّفُّ الْمُقَدَّمُ وَتَقَدَّمَ الصَّفُّ الْمُؤَخَّرُ فَقَامَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ فِي مَقَامِ صَاحِبِهِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَمِيعًا فَلَمَّا رَفَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ سَجَدَ الصَّفُّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَقَامَ الآخَرُونَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغُوا مِنْ سُجُودِهِمْ سَجَدَ الآخَرُونَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَيْهِمْ .
"I heard Mujahid narrating from Abu Ayyash Az-Zuraqi"- Shu'bah said: "He had written it for me, and I read it before him, and I heard him narrating it; rather, I even memorized it." Ibn Bashshar said: "I memorized it from the book"- "The Prophet (ﷺ) was drawing up ranks facing the enemy in 'Usfan when the idolaters were led by Khalid bin Al-Walid. The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in praying Zuhr. The idolaters said: 'They have a prayer after this that is dearer to them than their wealth and sons.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them in praying 'Asr. He divided them into two rows, behind him. He led them all in bowing, then when they raised their heads he led the row that was closest to him in prostrating, while the others remained standing. When they raised their heads from prostration, the second row prostrated, as they had already bowed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Then the front row moved forward, so each of them took the place of his companion. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them all in bowing, then when they raised their heads from bowing, the row that was closest to him prostrated while the others remained standing, then when they had finished prostrating, the others prostrated, then the Prophet (ﷺ) said the taslim for all of them together.
Narrated by Shu'bah narrated from Mansur who said:
Context
This hadith describes a unique situation during a battle where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) led a prayer while facing the enemy. The idolaters recognized the significance of the prayer to the Muslims, stating it was more beloved to them than their wealth and children. The Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrated a method of leading the prayer that allowed both rows of worshippers to participate effectively, even in such a challenging context.
Modern Application
In today's daily salah, this hadith emphasizes the importance of maintaining prayer even in difficult circumstances. It encourages Muslims to prioritize their spiritual obligations and find ways to fulfill them, regardless of external pressures or challenges.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it illustrates the importance of performing salah even in the face of adversity.
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.
And [remember] when you, [O Muhammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uhud] - and Allah is Hearing and Knowing -
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
This hadith is #1554 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of the Fear Prayer. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Shu'bah narrated from Mansur who said:.