And because that which prohibits prayer in other than intense fear, also prohibits it during such fear, such as ritual impurity and shouting. Al-Shafi'i said: He may pray, but if he engages in continuous stabbing, striking, walking, or does that which takes a long time, his prayer is void, because such actions are invalidators of prayer, resembling ritual impurity. Our position is the word of Allah the Almighty: {If you fear, then pray on foot or mounted} [Quran 2:239]. Ibn 'Umar said: If the fear is more intense than that, they pray on foot while standing, or mounted, facing the Qibla or not facing it. It is agreed upon. This has been narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Furthermore, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed with his companions in non-intense fear, yet he commanded them to walk toward the enemy, then return to complete the remainder of their prayer; this involves much walking, prolonged activity, and turning one's back to the Qibla, and he permitted that due to the fear that was not intense, so it is more appropriate in the case of intense fear. It is remarkable that Abu Hanifah chose this view to the exclusion of other views that do not involve activity during the prayer, permitting it even when there was no need for it and when it was possible to pray without it, then forbidding it in a situation where one cannot do otherwise. The opposite would have been more appropriate, especially with the text of Allah the Almighty providing a concession in this situation. Moreover, he is a morally responsible person whose ritual purification is valid, so it is not permissible for him to leave the prayer time empty of its performance, like the sick person. Al-Shafi'i distinguishes this by noting that it is an activity permitted due to fear, so the prayer is not voided by it, similar to turning away from the Qibla, mounting, and gesturing. Additionally, when there is a need for intense activity, one cannot avoid one of three things: either delaying the prayer beyond its time—and there is no disagreement between us that this is forbidden—or abandoning the fight, which contains his destruction, and Allah the Almighty has said:
(1) Surah Al-Baqarah: 239. (2) Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in: Chapter on the Fear Prayer while on foot and mounted, and the pedestrian standing, from the Book of Fear Prayer; and in: Chapter on the Interpretation of Surah Al-Baqarah, from the Book of Tafsir. Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/18, 6/38. And Muslim, in: Chapter on the Fear Prayer, from the Book of Travelers' Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/574. It was also narrated by Malik, in: Chapter on the Fear Prayer, from the Book of Fear Prayer. Al-Muwatta 1/184. (3) Omitted from the original. (4) Omitted from the original and (A). (5) In (A) and (M): "ajal" (due to).
