Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 239

Mufti Taqi Usmani

But if you are in fear, then (pray) on foot or riding. But when you are in peace, recite Allah’s name as He has taught you what you did not know.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If you are in danger, pray on foot or while riding. But when you are safe, ˹take time to˺ remember Allah for teaching you what you did not know.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If you are in danger, then pray while walking or riding. But when you are safe, remember Allah as He taught you what you did not know.

A. J. Arberry

And if you are in fear, then afoot or mounted; but when you are secure, then remember God, as He taught you the things that you knew not.

Abdul Haleem

If you are in danger, pray when you are out walking or riding; when you are safe again, remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And if ye fear, then pray on foot or riding; then when ye are secure, remember Allah in the way He hath taught you which ye ever knew not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If ye fear (an enemy), pray on foot, or riding, (as may be most convenient), but when ye are in security, celebrate Allah's praises in the manner He has taught you, which ye knew not (before).

Abul Ala Maududi

Even if you are in danger, you must offer your Prayers anyhow on foot or on horseback. And when you have peace again, remember Allah in the manner He has taught you, which you did not know before.

Ahmed Ali

If you fear (war or danger), pray while standing or on horseback; but when you have safety again remember God, for He taught you what you did not know.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And if you are in fear, pray while on foot or while riding, as you can; when you are in peace remember Allah the way He has taught you, which you did not know.

Ali Quli Qarai

and should you fear [a danger], then [pray] on foot or mounted, and when you are safe remember Allah, as He taught you what you did not know.

Ali Ünal

If you are exposed to danger (and it is impossible for you to perform the Prayer standing in a place, then pray) afoot or mounted. When you are secure, mention God (and establish the Prayer) as He has taught you what you did not know (of faith, Book, and the Prayer.)

Amatul Rahman Omar

And if you apprehend (any danger) then (say your Prayer) on foot or mounted, but when you are secure, then remember Allâh in the manner He taught you (and) which (manner) you did not know (before).

English Literal

So if you feared, so walking or riding , so if you became safe/secure , so mention/remember God, as He taught you what you were not knowing.

Faridul Haque

And if you are in fear, pray while on foot or while riding, as you can; when you are in peace remember Allah the way He has taught you, which you did not know.

Hamid S. Aziz

And if you stand in danger, then pray afoot or on horseback; but when you are in safety remember Allah, how He taught you what yet you knew not.

Hilali & Khan

And if you fear (an enemy), perfrom Salat (pray) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the Salat (prayer) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But if you are in danger (say your prayers) on foot or on horseback. And when you are secure, remember Allah as He has taught you what you knew not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But if you are in danger, then (say your prayers) on foot or on horseback; and when you are secure, then remember Allah, as He has taught you what you did not know.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And if ye go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. And when ye are again in safety, remember Allah, as He hath taught you that which (heretofore) ye knew not.

Muhammad Sarwar

In an emergency you may say your prayers while walking or riding; but when you are safe, remember God, as He has taught you what you did not know before.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And if you fear, then (pray) on foot or riding. But when you are safe, then remember Allah, as He has taught you what you did not know.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if you fear (an enemy), (perform Salah) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, then remember Allah (pray) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).

Wahiduddin Khan

When you are exposed to danger, pray on foot or while riding; when you are safe again, remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.

Talal Itani

But if you are in fear, then on foot, or riding. And when you are safe, remember God, as He taught you what you did not know.

Tafsir jalalayn

And if you are in fear, of an enemy, or a torrent, or a predatory animal, then standing (rijl, plural of rjil), praying while walking, or mounted (rukbn, plural of rkib). In other words, in whichever way you can, facing the direction of the qibla or otherwise, making the gestures of genuflexion and prostration; but when you are secure, from any fear, then remember God, by performing prayer, as He taught you what you knew not, before He taught you its obligations and its proper ways (the particle kf [of ka-m, `as'] has the same meaning as mithl [`like'], while the m is related to the verbal action, or is relative).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And if you fear (an enemy), (perform Salah) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, then remember Allah (pray) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).

After Allah commanded His servants to perform the prayer perfectly and emphasized this commandment, He mentioned the situation where the person might not be able to perform the prayer perfectly, during battle and combat.

Allah said;
فَإنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالاً أَوْ رُكْبَانًا
(And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salah on foot or riding),

meaning, pray in the appropriate manner under these circumstances, whether on foot or riding and whether facing the Qiblah or otherwise.

Imam Malik reported that Nafi related that Ibn Umar used to describe the Fear prayer when he was asked about it and would then add,

"If there is intense fear, pray on foot, riding, facing the Qiblah and otherwise."

Nafi commented,

"I think that he related that to the Prophet."

Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported the Hadith.

Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"Allah has ordained the prayer by the words of your Prophet;four (Rak`ah) while residing, two Rak`ah while traveling and one Rak`ah during times of fear."

This is also the view of Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, and others.

In addition, Al-Bukhari has entitled a Chapter;`Prayer while confronting the Forts and facing the Enemy'.

Al-Awza`i said,

"If the victory seems near and the Muslims are unable to perform the prayer (in the normal manner), they should pray by nodding each by himself. If they are unable to nod, they should delay the prayer until fighting is finished.

When they feel safe, they should pray two Rak`ah. If they are unable, they should then pray one Rak`ah that includes two prostrations.

If they are unable, then Takbir alone does not suffice, so they should delay the prayer until they are safe."

This is the same view that Makhul held.

Anas bin Malik said,

"I participated in the attack on the fort of Tastar, when the light of dawn started to become clear. Suddenly, the fighting raged and the Muslims were unable to pray until the light of day spread. We then prayed (the Dawn prayer) with Abu Musa and we became victorious.

I would not have been pleased if I were to gain in the life of this world and whatever is in it instead of that prayer."

This is the wording of Al-Bukhari.
Prayer during the Times of Peace is performed normally

Allah said;

فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ

And when you are in safety, then remember Allah (pray),

meaning, `Perform the prayer as I have commanded you by completing its bowing, prostration, standing, sitting, and with the required attention (in the heart) and supplication.'

Allah said;

كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْلَمُونَ

in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).

meaning, just as He has endowed you, guided you and taught you about what benefits you in this life and the Hereafter, so thank and remember Him.

Similarly, Allah said after He mentioned the prayer of Fear,

فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلَوةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُوْمِنِينَ كِتَـباً مَّوْقُوتاً
but when you are free from danger, perform As-Salah. Verily, As-Salah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours. (4;103)

We will mention the Hadiths about the prayer of Fear and its description in Surah An-Nisa while mentioning Allah's statement;

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَوةَ

When you (O Messenger Muhammad) are among them, and lead them in As-Salah(the prayer). (4;102