Salih ibn Khawwat narrated from one who prayed the Prayer of Fear with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the day of Dhat al-Riqa', that one group lined up (10) with him, and another group faced the enemy. He prayed one rak'ah with those who were with him, then he remained standing, and they completed their prayer by themselves. Then they left and lined up facing the enemy, and the other group came. He prayed with them the rak'ah that remained of his prayer, then he remained sitting, and they completed their prayer by themselves. Then he performed the taslim with them. It was reported by Muslim (11). Sahl ibn Abi Hathma reported something similar (12). Acting upon this is more appropriate, because it is more similar to the Book of Allah the Almighty, and it is more cautious for both the prayer and the battle. As for conformity to the Book, the statement of Allah the Almighty: {And let another group come, who have not yet prayed, and let them pray with you} implies that their entire prayer is with him. According to him [Abu Hanifah], they pray only one rak'ah with him, while according to us, their entire prayer is with him; one of the two rak'ahs conforms to him in his actions and standing, and the second one they perform before his taslim, then they perform the taslim with him. From the meaning of His saying: {who have not yet prayed}, it is understood that the first group has performed their entire prayer, whereas according to their view, they have only prayed part of it. As for caution in prayer, each group performs its prayer consecutively, some of which conforms to the Imam in action, and some of which they perform separately, like a masbuq (latecomer). According to him [Abu Hanifah], they turn away during the prayer, so they either walk or ride, and this is excessive movement; they turn their backs to the qibla, and this is contrary to the prayer; and they split the two rak'ahs with a significant separation that is contrary to the prayer. Then they made
(10) In [A] and [M]: "prayed". Al-Nawawi said after the word "lined up": Thus it is in most copies, and in some of them: "prayed with him", and both are correct. Sharh al-Nawawi 'ala Sahih Muslim 6/128, 129. (11) In: The Chapter on the Prayer of Fear, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/575, 576. It was also reported by Al-Bukhari in: The Chapter on the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa', from the Book of Military Expeditions. Sahih al-Bukhari 5/145. And Abu Dawood in: The Chapter on him who said: If he prays one rak'ah and remains standing... etc., from the Book of Travel. Sunan Abi Dawood 1/283. And Al-Nasa'i in: The beginning of the Book of the Prayer of Fear. Al-Mujtaba 3/139. And Imam Malik in: The Chapter on the Prayer of Fear, from the Book of the Prayer of Fear. Al-Muwatta 1/183. And Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 5/370. (12) Its verification was previously mentioned on page 299.