Salat During War (4:102)

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

ุญูŽุงููุธููˆุง ุนูŽู„ูŽู‰ ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽูˆูŽุงุชู ูˆูŽุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉู ุงู„ู’ูˆูุณู’ุทูŽู‰ูฐ ูˆูŽู‚ููˆู…ููˆุง ู„ูู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ู‚ูŽุงู†ูุชููŠู†ูŽ

[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.

ููŽุฅูู†ู’ ุฎููู’ุชูู…ู’ ููŽุฑูุฌูŽุงู„ู‹ุง ุฃูŽูˆู’ ุฑููƒู’ุจูŽุงู†ู‹ุง ููŽุฅูุฐูŽุง ุฃูŽู…ูู†ู’ุชูู…ู’ ููŽุงุฐู’ูƒูุฑููˆุง ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ ูƒูŽู…ูŽุง ุนูŽู„ูŽู‘ู…ูŽูƒูู…ู’ ู…ูŽุง ู„ูŽู…ู’ ุชูŽูƒููˆู†ููˆุง ุชูŽุนู’ู„ูŽู…ููˆู†ูŽ

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

2
238
1
ุญูŽุงููุธููˆุง
Guard strictly [you all]
แธฅฤfiแบ“ลซ

2

238

2

ุนูŽู„ูŽู‰

[over]

สฟalฤ

2

238

3

ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽูˆูŽุงุชู

the Contact Prayers (Salat),

l-แนฃalawฤti

2

238

4

ูˆูŽุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉู

and the Contact Prayer (Salat)

wal-แนฃalati

2

238

5

ุงู„ู’ูˆูุณู’ุทูŽู‰ูฐ

[the] middle,

l-wusโ€™แนญฤ

2

238

6

ูˆูŽู‚ููˆู…ููˆุง

and stand firm [you all]

waqลซmลซ

2

238

7

ู„ูู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู

for God

lillahi

2

238

8

ู‚ูŽุงู†ูุชููŠู†ูŽ

[ones] with total devotion.

qฤnitฤซna

2

239

1

ููŽุฅูู†ู’

And if

fa-in

2

239

2

ุฎููู’ุชูู…ู’

you [all] feared

khifโ€™tum

2

239

3

ููŽุฑูุฌูŽุงู„ู‹ุง

then (pray) on foot / walking

farijฤlan

2

239

4

ุฃูŽูˆู’

or

aw

2

239

5

ุฑููƒู’ุจูŽุงู†ู‹ุง

riding.

rukโ€™bฤnan

2

239

6

ููŽุฅูุฐูŽุง

Then when

fa-idhฤ

2

239

7

ุฃูŽู…ูู†ู’ุชูู…ู’

you [all] were secure

amintum

2

239

8

ููŽุงุฐู’ูƒูุฑููˆุง

then commemorate [you all]

fa-udhโ€™kurลซ

2

239

9

ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ

God

l-laha

2

239

10

ูƒูŽู…ูŽุง

as

kamฤ

2

239

11

ุนูŽู„ูŽู‘ู…ูŽูƒูู…ู’

He taught you [all]

สฟallamakum

2

239

12

ู…ูŽุง

what

mฤ

2

239

13

ู„ูŽู…ู’

not

lam

2

239

14

ุชูŽูƒููˆู†ููˆุง

you all [were]

takลซnลซ

2

239

15

ุชูŽุนู’ู„ูŽู…ููˆู†ูŽ

[you all] know.

taสฟlamลซna

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.

ูˆูŽุฅูุฐูŽุง ุถูŽุฑูŽุจู’ุชูู…ู’ ูููŠ ุงู„ู’ุฃูŽุฑู’ุถู ููŽู„ูŽูŠู’ุณูŽ ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’ ุฌูู†ูŽุงุญูŒ ุฃูŽู†ู’ ุชูŽู‚ู’ุตูุฑููˆุง ู…ูู†ูŽ ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉู ุฅูู†ู’ ุฎููู’ุชูู…ู’ ุฃูŽู†ู’ ูŠูŽูู’ุชูู†ูŽูƒูู…ู ุงู„ูŽู‘ุฐููŠู†ูŽ ูƒูŽููŽุฑููˆุง ุฅูู†ูŽู‘ ุงู„ู’ูƒูŽุงููุฑููŠู†ูŽ ูƒูŽุงู†ููˆุง ู„ูŽูƒูู…ู’ ุนูŽุฏููˆู‹ู‘ุง ู…ูุจููŠู†ู‹ุง

4
101
1
ูˆูŽุฅูุฐูŽุง
And when
wa-idhฤ

4

101

2

ุถูŽุฑูŽุจู’ุชูู…ู’

you [all] traveled

แธarabtum

4

101

3

ูููŠ

in

fฤซ

4

101

4

ุงู„ู’ุฃูŽุฑู’ุถู

the earth

l-arแธi

4

101

5

ููŽู„ูŽูŠู’ุณูŽ

then not

falaysa

4

101

6

ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’

upon you [all]

สฟalaykum

4

101

7

ุฌูู†ูŽุงุญูŒ

any blame

junฤแธฅun

4

101

8

ุฃูŽู†ู’

that

an

4

101

9

ุชูŽู‚ู’ุตูุฑููˆุง

you [all] shorten

taqแนฃurลซ

4

101

10

ู…ูู†ูŽ

[of]

mina

4

101

11

ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉู

the Contact Prayer (Salat)

l-แนฃalati

4

101

12

ุฅูู†ู’

if

in

4

101

13

ุฎููู’ุชูู…ู’

you [all] feared

khifโ€™tum

4

101

14

ุฃูŽู†ู’

that

an

4

101

15

ูŠูŽูู’ุชูู†ูŽูƒูู…ู

[they] (may) harm you [all]

yaftinakumu

4

101

16

ุงู„ูŽู‘ุฐููŠู†ูŽ

those who

alladhฤซna

4

101

17

ูƒูŽููŽุฑููˆุง

[they] disbelieved.

kafarลซ

4

101

18

ุฅูู†ูŽู‘

Indeed,

inna

4

101

19

ุงู„ู’ูƒูŽุงููุฑููŠู†ูŽ

the disbelievers

l-kฤfirฤซna

4

101

20

ูƒูŽุงู†ููˆุง

[they] were

kฤnลซ

4

101

21

ู„ูŽูƒูู…ู’

for you [all]

lakum

4

101

22

ุนูŽุฏููˆู‹ู‘ุง

an enemy

สฟaduwwan

4

101

23

ู…ูุจููŠู†ู‹ุง

open / ardent.

mubฤซnan

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.

ูˆูŽุฅูุฐูŽุง ูƒูู†ู’ุชูŽ ูููŠู‡ูู…ู’ ููŽุฃูŽู‚ูŽู…ู’ุชูŽ ู„ูŽู‡ูู…ู ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉูŽ ููŽู„ู’ุชูŽู‚ูู…ู’ ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ ู…ูู†ู’ู‡ูู…ู’ ู…ูŽุนูŽูƒูŽ ูˆูŽู„ู’ูŠูŽุฃู’ุฎูุฐููˆุง ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽู‡ูู…ู’ ููŽุฅูุฐูŽุง ุณูŽุฌูŽุฏููˆุง ููŽู„ู’ูŠูŽูƒููˆู†ููˆุง ู…ูู†ู’ ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุฆููƒูู…ู’ ูˆูŽู„ู’ุชูŽุฃู’ุชู ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ ุฃูุฎู’ุฑูŽู‰ูฐ ู„ูŽู…ู’ ูŠูุตูŽู„ูู‘ูˆุง ููŽู„ู’ูŠูุตูŽู„ูู‘ูˆุง ู…ูŽุนูŽูƒูŽ ูˆูŽู„ู’ูŠูŽุฃู’ุฎูุฐููˆุง ุญูุฐู’ุฑูŽู‡ูู…ู’ ูˆูŽุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽู‡ูู…ู’ ูˆูŽุฏูŽู‘ ุงู„ูŽู‘ุฐููŠู†ูŽ ูƒูŽููŽุฑููˆุง ู„ูŽูˆู’ ุชูŽุบู’ููู„ููˆู†ูŽ ุนูŽู†ู’ ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชููƒูู…ู’ ูˆูŽุฃูŽู…ู’ุชูุนูŽุชููƒูู…ู’ ููŽูŠูŽู…ููŠู„ููˆู†ูŽ ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’ ู…ูŽูŠู’ู„ูŽุฉู‹ ูˆูŽุงุญูุฏูŽุฉู‹ ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุฌูู†ูŽุงุญูŽ ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’ ุฅูู†ู’ ูƒูŽุงู†ูŽ ุจููƒูู…ู’ ุฃูŽุฐู‹ู‰ ู…ูู†ู’ ู…ูŽุทูŽุฑู ุฃูŽูˆู’ ูƒูู†ู’ุชูู…ู’ ู…ูŽุฑู’ุถูŽู‰ูฐ ุฃูŽู†ู’ ุชูŽุถูŽุนููˆุง ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽูƒูู…ู’ ูˆูŽุฎูุฐููˆุง ุญูุฐู’ุฑูŽูƒูู…ู’ ุฅูู†ูŽู‘ ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ ุฃูŽุนูŽุฏูŽู‘ ู„ูู„ู’ูƒูŽุงููุฑููŠู†ูŽ ุนูŽุฐูŽุงุจู‹ุง ู…ูู‡ููŠู†ู‹ุง

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 โ€œyouโ€ is used it is in reference to the prophet, while the plural โ€œyou allโ€, is used is in reference to the people.

The Arabic clearly shows that the prophet is leading the Contact Prayer (Salat) the whole time for both groups, while the believers 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
ูˆูŽุฅูุฐูŽุง
And when [in the future]
wa-idhฤ

4

102

2

ูƒูู†ู’ุชูŽ

you (prophet) were

kunta

4

102

3

ูููŠู‡ูู…ู’

among them

fฤซhim

4

102

4

ููŽุฃูŽู‚ูŽู…ู’ุชูŽ

and you (prophet) led

fa-aqamta

4

102

5

ู„ูŽู‡ูู…ู

for them

lahumu

4

102

6

ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉูŽ

the Contact Prayer (Salat),

l-แนฃalata

4

102

7

ููŽู„ู’ุชูŽู‚ูู…ู’

then let [it] stand guard

faltaqum

4

102

8

ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ

a group

แนญฤifatun

4

102

9

ู…ูู†ู’ู‡ูู…ู’

over them

minโ€™hum

4

102

10

ู…ูŽุนูŽูƒูŽ

along with you (prophet)

maสฟaka

4

102

11

ูˆูŽู„ู’ูŠูŽุฃู’ุฎูุฐููˆุง

and let them take

walyakhudhลซ

4

102

12

ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽู‡ูู…ู’

their arms / weapons.

asliแธฅatahum

4

102

13

ููŽุฅูุฐูŽุง

Then when [in the future]

fa-idhฤ

4

102

14

ุณูŽุฌูŽุฏููˆุง

they prostrated,

sajadลซ

4

102

15

ููŽู„ู’ูŠูŽูƒููˆู†ููˆุง

then let them be

falyakลซnลซ

4

102

16

ู…ูู†ู’

from

min

4

102

17

ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุฆููƒูู…ู’

behind you [all]

warฤikum

4

102

18

ูˆูŽู„ู’ุชูŽุฃู’ุชู

and let [it] come (forward)

waltati

4

102

19

ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ

a group โ€“

แนญฤifatun

4

102

20

ุฃูุฎู’ุฑูŽู‰ูฐ

another,

ukhโ€™rฤ

4

102

21

ู„ูŽู…ู’

(which has) not

lam

4

102

22

ูŠูุตูŽู„ูู‘ูˆุง

[they] prayed,

yuแนฃallลซ

4

102

23

ููŽู„ู’ูŠูุตูŽู„ูู‘ูˆุง

then let them pray

falyuแนฃallลซ

4

102

24

ู…ูŽุนูŽูƒูŽ

along with you (prophet),

maสฟaka

4

102

25

ูˆูŽู„ู’ูŠูŽุฃู’ุฎูุฐููˆุง

and let them take

walyakhudhลซ

4

102

26

ุญูุฐู’ุฑูŽู‡ูู…ู’

their precautions

แธฅidhโ€™rahum

4

102

27

ูˆูŽุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽู‡ูู…ู’

and their arms / weapons.

wa-asliแธฅatahum

4

102

28

ูˆูŽุฏูŽู‘

[He] wished

wadda

4

102

29

ุงู„ูŽู‘ุฐููŠู†ูŽ

those who

alladhฤซna

4

102

30

ูƒูŽููŽุฑููˆุง

[they] disbelieved

kafarลซ

4

102

31

ู„ูŽูˆู’

if

law

4

102

32

ุชูŽุบู’ููู„ููˆู†ูŽ

you [all] neglect

taghfulลซna

4

102

33

ุนูŽู†ู’

[about]

สฟan

4

102

34

ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชููƒูู…ู’

your arms / weapons

asliแธฅatikum

4

102

35

ูˆูŽุฃูŽู…ู’ุชูุนูŽุชููƒูู…ู’

and your baggage / equipment

wa-amtiสฟatikum

4

102

36

ููŽูŠูŽู…ููŠู„ููˆู†ูŽ

so (that) they (can) assault

fayamฤซlลซna

4

102

37

ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’

[upon] you [all]

สฟalaykum

4

102

38

ู…ูŽูŠู’ู„ูŽุฉู‹

an attack

maylatan

4

102

39

ูˆูŽุงุญูุฏูŽุฉู‹

single (once and for all).

wฤแธฅidatan

4

102

40

ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง

But (there is) no

walฤ

4

102

41

ุฌูู†ูŽุงุญูŽ

blame

junฤแธฅa

4

102

42

ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู’

upon you [all]

สฟalaykum

4

102

43

ุฅูู†ู’

if

in

4

102

44

ูƒูŽุงู†ูŽ

it was

kฤna

4

102

45

ุจููƒูู…ู’

with you [all]

bikum

4

102

46

ุฃูŽุฐู‹ู‰

suffering / harm / hampering

adhan

4

102

47

ู…ูู†ู’

from

min

4

102

48

ู…ูŽุทูŽุฑู

rain

maแนญarin

4

102

49

ุฃูŽูˆู’

or

aw

4

102

50

ูƒูู†ู’ุชูู…ู’

you [all] are

kuntum

4

102

51

ู…ูŽุฑู’ุถูŽู‰ูฐ

sick

marแธฤ

4

102

52

ุฃูŽู†ู’

that

an

4

102

53

ุชูŽุถูŽุนููˆุง

you [all] lay down

taแธaสฟลซ

4

102

54

ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽูƒูู…ู’

your arms / weapons,

asliแธฅatakum

4

102

55

ูˆูŽุฎูุฐููˆุง

but take [you all]

wakhudhลซ

4

102

56

ุญูุฐู’ุฑูŽูƒูู…ู’

your precautions.

แธฅidhโ€™rakum

4

102

57

ุฅูู†ูŽู‘

Indeed,

inna

4

102

58

ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ

God

l-laha

4

102

59

ุฃูŽุนูŽุฏูŽู‘

[He] prepared

aสฟadda

4

102

60

ู„ูู„ู’ูƒูŽุงููุฑููŠู†ูŽ

for the disbelievers

lilโ€™kฤfirฤซna

4

102

61

ุนูŽุฐูŽุงุจู‹ุง

a punishment / retribution

สฟadhฤban

4

102

62

ู…ูู‡ููŠู†ู‹ุง

humiliating / shameful.

muhฤซnan

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 โ€œthey prostratedโ€ and does not specifically mention the messenger prostrating, but this can easily be disproved.

Firstly, the absence of explicitly stating 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 โ€œyouโ€ is used when addressing only the prophet with the suffix "ta" ( ุชูŽ ) or "ka" ( ูƒูŽ )

  • them/their is used when addressing each group or both groups with the suffix "hum" ( ู‡ูู…ู )

  • the plural โ€œyouโ€ is used when addressing the prophet and the group with the suffix "kum" ( ูƒูู…ู’ )

So, letโ€™s look at these uses in the context of the verse. In the snippet below, the singular โ€œyouโ€ is used when addressing the messenger, and โ€œthemโ€ is used for the rest of the believers.

4
102
1
ูˆูŽุฅูุฐูŽุง
And when [in the future]
wa-idhฤ

4

102

2

ูƒูู†ู’ุชูŽ

you (prophet) were

kunta

4

102

3

ูููŠู‡ูู…ู’

among them

fฤซhim

4

102

4

ููŽุฃูŽู‚ูŽู…ู’ุชูŽ

and you (prophet) led

fa-aqamta

4

102

5

ู„ูŽู‡ูู…ู

for them

lahumu

4

102

6

ุงู„ุตูŽู‘ู„ูŽุงุฉูŽ

the Contact Prayer (Salat),

l-แนฃalata

In the next section, we see that the first group of believers is to stand guard over the other group and the prophet while they perform their Salat.

4
102
7
ููŽู„ู’ุชูŽู‚ูู…ู’
then let [it] stand guard
faltaqum

4

102

8

ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ

a group

แนญฤifatun

4

102

9

ู…ูู†ู’ู‡ูู…ู’

over them

minโ€™hum

4

102

10

ู…ูŽุนูŽูƒูŽ

along with you (prophet)

maสฟaka

4

102

11

ูˆูŽู„ู’ูŠูŽุฃู’ุฎูุฐููˆุง

and let them take

walyakhudhลซ

4

102

12

ุฃูŽุณู’ู„ูุญูŽุชูŽู‡ูู…ู’

their arms / weapons.

asliแธฅatahum

Then, the verse states that after โ€œthey prostrated,โ€ the other group comes forward to pray with the prophet. Here, individuals claim that the โ€œtheyโ€ refers only 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 โ€œtheyโ€ because it uses the term โ€œbehind you [all]โ€ and not โ€œbehind [them],โ€ which indicates that the prophet was among those prostrating.

4
102
13
ููŽุฅูุฐูŽุง
Then when [in the future]
fa-idhฤ

4

102

14

ุณูŽุฌูŽุฏููˆุง

they prostrated,

sajadลซ

4

102

15

ููŽู„ู’ูŠูŽูƒููˆู†ููˆุง

then let them be

falyakลซnลซ

4

102

16

ู…ูู†ู’

from

min

4

102

17

ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุฆููƒูู…ู’

behind you [all]

warฤikum

4

102

18

ูˆูŽู„ู’ุชูŽุฃู’ุชู

and let [it] come (forward)

waltati

4

102

19

ุทูŽุงุฆูููŽุฉูŒ

a group โ€“

แนญฤifatun

If we look at the grammar, we see that it uses the suffix โ€œyou allโ€ ( ูƒูู…ู’ ), which is the plural form of the word "you" in the word "warฤikum" ( ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุฆููƒูู…ู’ ), which means โ€œbehind you [all]โ€. If the prostration did not include the messenger then it would have used the term "warฤihum" ( ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุกูŽู‡ูู…ู’ ) โ€œbehind themโ€ using the suffix "hum" ( ู‡ูู…ู’ ) "them", but since it uses the term "warฤikum" ( ูˆูŽุฑูŽุงุฆููƒูู…ู’ ) โ€œbehind you [all]โ€ 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

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