prostration, such as a helmet (maghfar), nor anything that causes harm to others, such as a spear if it is of medium length. If it is on the side, it is not disliked. It is not permissible to carry an impure substance, nor anything that would invalidate one of the pillars of the prayer, except in cases of necessity, such as if he fears being struck by stones or arrows, in which case it is permissible for him to carry it due to necessity. Our companions said: Carrying a weapon is not obligatory. This is the view of Abu Hanifah, the majority of scholars, and one of the two views of Al-Shafi'i; because if it were obligatory, it would be a condition of the prayer like the sutrah, and because the command for it was for their gentleness and protection, not for obligation, just as when the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade continuous fasting (wisal) as an act of kindness to them, it was not for prohibition. It is also possible that it is obligatory, and this is the view of Dawud and Al-Shafi'i in the other narration, and the evidence supports them; because the literal meaning of a command is obligation, and it has been accompanied by that which indicates the intention of obligation, which is the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And there is no sin upon you, if you have an annoyance from rain or are ill, that you put down your weapons." The negation of blame conditional upon harm is proof of its necessity when there is no harm. As for if they are troubled by rain or illness, it is not obligatory without dispute, by the clear declaration of the text negating blame in that instance.

Section: It is permissible to pray the prayer of fear in any manner the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed it. Ahmad said: Every hadith reported in the chapters of the prayer of fear may be acted upon. He said: There are six or seven manners reported, all of which are permissible. Al-Athram said: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah: Do you follow all the hadiths, each hadith in its place, or do you choose one of them? He replied: I say that whoever follows all of them, it is good, but as for the hadith of Sahl, I choose it. Once this is established, we shall mention the manners that have reached us in which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed, and we have mentioned from them