Salat During War

The Quran informs the believers that under unusual circumstances, particularly during times of war, they can modify how they perform their Salat. These commandments occur in the following verses: 2:239, 4:101, 4:102.

In order to understand 2:239, it helps to start from 2:238 in order to understand that the context is Salat. This verse informs the believers that during times of insecurity they can perform their Salat while walking or riding.

[2:238] You shall consistently observe the Contact Prayers, especially the middle prayer, and devote yourselves totally to GOD.

(٢٣٨) حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

[2:239] Under unusual circumstances, you may pray while walking or riding. Once you are safe, you shall commemorate GOD as He taught you what you never knew.

(٢٣٩) فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا فَإِذَا أَمِنْتُمْ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ

Below is a word-by-word translation of the above two verses.

2	238	1	حَافِظُوا	Guard strictly [you all]	ḥāfiẓū
2	238	2	عَلَى	[over]	ʿalā
2	238	3	الصَّلَوَاتِ	the Contact Prayers (Salat),	l-ṣalawāti
2	238	4	وَالصَّلَاةِ	and the Contact Prayer (Salat)	wal-ṣalati
2	238	5	الْوُسْطَىٰ	[the] middle,	l-wus’ṭā
2	238	6	وَقُومُوا	and stand firm [you all]	waqūmū
2	238	7	لِلَّهِ	for God	lillahi
2	238	8	قَانِتِينَ	[ones] with total devotion.	qānitīna
2	239	1	فَإِنْ	And if	fa-in
2	239	2	خِفْتُمْ	you [all] feared	khif’tum
2	239	3	فَرِجَالًا	then (pray) on foot / walking	farijālan
2	239	4	أَوْ	or	aw
2	239	5	رُكْبَانًا	riding.	ruk’bānan
2	239	6	فَإِذَا	Then when	fa-idhā
2	239	7	أَمِنْتُمْ	you [all] were secure	amintum
2	239	8	فَاذْكُرُوا	then commemorate [you all]	fa-udh’kurū
2	239	9	اللَّهَ	God	l-laha
2	239	10	كَمَا	as	kamā
2	239	11	عَلَّمَكُمْ	He taught you [all]	ʿallamakum
2	239	12	مَا	what	mā
2	239	13	لَمْ	not	lam
2	239	14	تَكُونُوا	you all [were]	takūnū
2	239	15	تَعْلَمُونَ	[you all] know.	taʿlamūna

4:101 informs the believers that during times of war they are allowed to shorten their Salat.

[4:101] When you travel, during war, you commit no error by shortening your Contact Prayers (Salat), if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you. Surely, the disbelievers are your ardent enemies.

 وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُبِينًا

4	101	1	وَإِذَا	And when	wa-idhā
4	101	2	ضَرَبْتُمْ	you [all] traveled	ḍarabtum
4	101	3	فِي	in	fī
4	101	4	الْأَرْضِ	the earth	l-arḍi
4	101	5	فَلَيْسَ	then not	falaysa
4	101	6	عَلَيْكُمْ	upon you [all]	ʿalaykum
4	101	7	جُنَاحٌ	any blame	junāḥun
4	101	8	أَنْ	that	an
4	101	9	تَقْصُرُوا	you [all] shorten	taqṣurū
4	101	10	مِنَ	[of]	mina
4	101	11	الصَّلَاةِ	the Contact Prayer (Salat)	l-ṣalati
4	101	12	إِنْ	if	in
4	101	13	خِفْتُمْ	you [all] feared	khif’tum
4	101	14	أَنْ	that	an
4	101	15	يَفْتِنَكُمُ	[they] (may) harm you [all]	yaftinakumu
4	101	16	الَّذِينَ	those who	alladhīna
4	101	17	كَفَرُوا	[they] disbelieved.	kafarū
4	101	18	إِنَّ	Indeed,	inna
4	101	19	الْكَافِرِينَ	the disbelievers	l-kāfirīna
4	101	20	كَانُوا	[they] were	kānū
4	101	21	لَكُمْ	for you [all]	lakum
4	101	22	عَدُوًّا	an enemy	ʿaduwwan
4	101	23	مُبِينًا	open / ardent.	mubīnan

4:102 provides the believers specific instructions on how they are to perform the Salat when they have to be on guard during war.

[4:102] When you are with them, and lead the Contact Prayer (Salat) for them, let some of you stand guard; let them hold their weapons, and let them stand behind you as you prostrate. Then, let the other group that has not prayed take their turn praying with you, while the others stand guard and hold their weapons. Those who disbelieved wish to see you neglect your weapons and your equipment, in order to attack you once and for all. You commit no error, if you are hampered by rain or injury, by putting down your weapons, so long as you remain alert. GOD has prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.

 وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِنْ مَطَرٍ أَوْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَىٰ أَنْ تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا

Before going through the word-by-word translation of the above verse, it is worth pointing out that many individuals who read the above verse often become confused about how this is to be understood and conducted. The reason for this confusion is that in English we do not typically utilize a distinction between the singular you and the plural you; e.g. you all. In the Arabic Quran, typically when the singular “you” is used it is in reference to the prophet, while the plural “you all”, is used is in reference to the people.

The Arabic clearly shows that the prophet when is leading the Contact Prayer (Salat) the whole time for both groups, while the believers, who are in two groups, take turns praying behind him rotating in after prostration. This way there is always a group that is standing guard and holding their weapons. For simplicity, I translated the verse specifying group #1 as the group that stood guard first, and group #2 as the group that stood guard second.

[4:102] When you (prophet) are with them (the believers during battle) and you (prophet) lead the Contact Prayer (Salat) for them (the believers during battle), then let a group stand guard (group #1) with their weapons, over them (group #2) and you (prophet). Then when they (group #2) prostrated, then let them (group #2) go behind you [all] and let another group (group #1) come forward, who has not prayed and let them (group #1) pray along with you (prophet). And let them (group #1) take their precautions and their weapons.

4	102	1	وَإِذَا	And when [in the future]	wa-idhā
4	102	2	كُنْتَ	you (prophet) were	kunta
4	102	3	فِيهِمْ	among them	fīhim
4	102	4	فَأَقَمْتَ	and you (prophet) led	fa-aqamta
4	102	5	لَهُمُ	for them	lahumu
4	102	6	الصَّلَاةَ	the Contact Prayer (Salat),	l-ṣalata
4	102	7	فَلْتَقُمْ	then let [it] stand guard	faltaqum
4	102	8	طَائِفَةٌ	a group	ṭāifatun
4	102	9	مِنْهُمْ	over them	min’hum
4	102	10	مَعَكَ	along with you (prophet)	maʿaka
4	102	11	وَلْيَأْخُذُوا	and let them take	walyakhudhū
4	102	12	أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ	their arms / weapons.	asliḥatahum
4	102	13	فَإِذَا	Then when [in the future]	fa-idhā
4	102	14	سَجَدُوا	they prostrated,	sajadū
4	102	15	فَلْيَكُونُوا	then let them be	falyakūnū
4	102	16	مِنْ	from	min
4	102	17	وَرَائِكُمْ	behind you [all]	warāikum
4	102	18	وَلْتَأْتِ	and let [it] come (forward)	waltati
4	102	19	طَائِفَةٌ	a group –	ṭāifatun
4	102	20	أُخْرَىٰ	another,	ukh’rā
4	102	21	لَمْ	(which has) not	lam
4	102	22	يُصَلُّوا	[they] prayed,	yuṣallū
4	102	23	فَلْيُصَلُّوا	then let them pray	falyuṣallū
4	102	24	مَعَكَ	along with you (prophet),	maʿaka
4	102	25	وَلْيَأْخُذُوا	and let them take	walyakhudhū
4	102	26	حِذْرَهُمْ	their precautions	ḥidh’rahum
4	102	27	وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ	and their arms / weapons.	wa-asliḥatahum
4	102	28	وَدَّ	[He] wished	wadda
4	102	29	الَّذِينَ	those who	alladhīna
4	102	30	كَفَرُوا	[they] disbelieved	kafarū
4	102	31	لَوْ	if	law
4	102	32	تَغْفُلُونَ	you [all] neglect	taghfulūna
4	102	33	عَنْ	[about]	ʿan
4	102	34	أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ	your arms / weapons	asliḥatikum
4	102	35	وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ	and your baggage / equipment	wa-amtiʿatikum
4	102	36	فَيَمِيلُونَ	so (that) they (can) assault	fayamīlūna
4	102	37	عَلَيْكُمْ	[upon] you [all]	ʿalaykum
4	102	38	مَيْلَةً	an attack	maylatan
4	102	39	وَاحِدَةً	single (once and for all).	wāḥidatan
4	102	40	وَلَا	But (there is) no	walā
4	102	41	جُنَاحَ	blame	junāḥa
4	102	42	عَلَيْكُمْ	upon you [all]	ʿalaykum
4	102	43	إِنْ	if	in
4	102	44	كَانَ	it was	kāna
4	102	45	بِكُمْ	with you [all]	bikum
4	102	46	أَذًى	suffering / harm / hampering	adhan
4	102	47	مِنْ	from	min
4	102	48	مَطَرٍ	rain	maṭarin
4	102	49	أَوْ	or	aw
4	102	50	كُنْتُمْ	you [all] are	kuntum
4	102	51	مَرْضَىٰ	sick	marḍā
4	102	52	أَنْ	that	an
4	102	53	تَضَعُوا	you [all] lay down	taḍaʿū
4	102	54	أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ	your arms / weapons,	asliḥatakum
4	102	55	وَخُذُوا	but take [you all]	wakhudhū
4	102	56	حِذْرَكُمْ	your precautions.	ḥidh’rakum
4	102	57	إِنَّ	Indeed,	inna
4	102	58	اللَّهَ	God	l-laha
4	102	59	أَعَدَّ	[He] prepared	aʿadda
4	102	60	لِلْكَافِرِينَ	for the disbelievers	lil’kāfirīna
4	102	61	عَذَابًا	a punishment / retribution	ʿadhāban
4	102	62	مُهِينًا	humiliating / shameful.	muhīnan

Did The Messenger Prostrate

Some argue that according to 4:102, the messenger did not prostrate with the believers when they were performing their Salat. The supposed claim for this argument is that the verse only indicates that “they prostrated” and does not specifically mention the messenger prostrating, but this can easily be disproved.

Firstly, the absence of stating explicitly that the messenger prostrated does not mean that he did not prostrate with the group. At best this can only be insinuated but, as we will see below, it is clear that the messenger was part of the group that prostrated.

Secondly, the verse states that the messenger was the one who was leading the Salat for the believers, this would mean that he was performing all the actions of the Salat, while each of the two groups would join him before and after the prostration.

Before looking at the Arabic grammar it is worth pointing out the three forms that are used in the verse to address the various parties.

• the singular “you” is used when addressing only the prophet with the suffix تَ / ta or كَ / ka
• them/their is used when addressing each group or both groups with the suffix هُمُ
• the plural “you” is used when addressing the prophet and the group with the suffix كُمْ / kum

So let’s look at these uses in the context of the verse. We see in the below snippet, the singular “you” is used when addressing the messenger, and “them” is used for the rest of the believers.

4	102	1	وَإِذَا	And when [in the future]	wa-idhā
4	102	2	كُنْتَ	you (prophet) were	kunta
4	102	3	فِيهِمْ	among them	fīhim
4	102	4	فَأَقَمْتَ	and you (prophet) led	fa-aqamta
4	102	5	لَهُمُ	for them	lahumu
4	102	6	الصَّلَاةَ	the Contact Prayer (Salat),	l-ṣalata

In the next section, we see that the first group of believers are to stand guard over the other group as well as the prophet while they do their Salat.

4	102	7	فَلْتَقُمْ	then let [it] stand guard	faltaqum
4	102	8	طَائِفَةٌ	a group	ṭāifatun
4	102	9	مِنْهُمْ	over them	min’hum
4	102	10	مَعَكَ	along with you (prophet)	maʿaka
4	102	11	وَلْيَأْخُذُوا	and let them take	walyakhudhū
4	102	12	أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ	their arms / weapons.	asliḥatahum

Then the verse states that after “they prostrated”, that the other group comes forward to pray with the prophet. Here is where individuals claim that the “they” is only in reference to the group and not the prophet, but if we just look at the next couple of words we see that the prophet was included in this “they” because it uses the term “behind you [all]” and not “behind [them]” which indicates that the prophet was among those prostrating.

4	102	13	فَإِذَا	Then when [in the future]	fa-idhā
4	102	14	سَجَدُوا	they prostrated,	sajadū
4	102	15	فَلْيَكُونُوا	then let them be	falyakūnū
4	102	16	مِنْ	from	min
4	102	17	وَرَائِكُمْ	behind you [all]	warāikum
4	102	18	وَلْتَأْتِ	and let [it] come (forward)	waltati
4	102	19	طَائِفَةٌ	a group –	ṭāifatun

If we look at the grammar we see that it uses the suffix “you all” كُمْ (the plural you) in the word وَرَائِكُمْ / warāikum / “behind you [all]”. If the prostration did not include the messenger then it would have used the term وَرَاءَهُمْ / warāihum / “behind them” using the suffix هُمْ (hum / them), but since it uses the term وَرَائِكُمْ / warāikum / “behind you [all]” this indicates that the messenger was included with those who were prostrating.

Below is a color-coded translation to help clarify this point:

• Group #1 is the group that stood guard first
• Group #2 is the group that stood guard second