Part Four

[Completion of Surah An-Nisa]

His saying, the Almighty: "And let them take their weapons. And when they have prostrated, let them be behind you." [5898]

Ahmad ibn Sinan narrated to us, [saying] Abu Qatan 'Amr ibn al-Haytham narrated to us, [saying] al-Mas'udi narrated to us, from Yazid al-Faqir, who said: I asked Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah about the two rak'ahs in travel: is it a shortening (qasr) of them? He said: "The two rak'ahs in travel are complete; the shortening is only one by one." [He said:] Regarding the fighting, while we were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in a battle, the prayer was called. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood and formed a group [into rows], while another group faced the enemy. He prayed one rak'ah with them and prostrated two prostrations with them. Then those who were left behind went to those [who had been fighting] and stood in their place, or similar to that. Then those [who had been fighting] came and stood behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and he prayed one rak'ah with them and prostrated two prostrations with them. Then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat and gave the salutation, as did those behind him and those [others]. So for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) there were two rak'ahs, and for the people there was one rak'ah each. Then he recited: "And when you are among them and lead the prayer for them." [5899]

Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Saghani narrated to us, [saying] Mu'awiya ibn 'Amr narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq al-Fazari, from Sufyan, from Mansur, from Mujahid, from Abu 'Ayyash al-Zurqi, who said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) at 'Usfan, and Khalid ibn al-Walid was over the polytheists, and they were between us and the qiblah. We prayed the noon (dhuhr) prayer, and they said: "They have a prayer coming upon them that is more beloved to them than their wealth and their own selves, so we should seize their unguarded moment or their negligence." So Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended with these verses between the noon and afternoon prayers: "And when you are among them and lead the prayer for them, let a group among them stand with you, and let them take their weapons. And when they have prostrated, let them be behind you, and let another group come who have not prayed, and let them pray with you, and let them take their precaution and their weapons..." until the end of the verse. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded them, so they took their weapons. Then they stood and lined up behind him in two rows. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said 'Allahu Akbar,' and they all said 'Allahu Akbar.' Then he bowed, and they all bowed. Then he rose, and they all rose. Then those nearest to him prostrated, while others stood guarding them. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood, and those nearest to him stood, they [the others] prostrated with him. Then the others who were guarding him prostrated. When they stood, those who had prostrated with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stepped back to the place of...