Is it permissible to reduce the Prayer of Fear to a single Rak'ah (unit of prayer)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of the Prayer of Fear
Primary text
The sixth form involves the Imam praying one Rak'ah with each contingent and making Taslim, resulting in two Rak'ahs for the Imam and one Rak'ah for each contingent, without any requirement to make up the remainder. This is based on the narration of Ibn Abbas from Dhi Qird, and is also supported by authentic narrations from Hudhayfah, Zayd ibn Thabit, and Abu Hurayrah. Ibn Abbas and Jabir hold that shortening the prayer to one Rak'ah is specifically for intense fighting. Tawus, Mujahid, Hasan, Qatadah, and Al-Hakam similarly hold that one Rak'ah with gesturing is sufficient during extreme fear. Al-Asqa' holds that one Rak'ah with gesturing suffices during severity; if unable, a single prostration suffices; if unable, a Takbir (declaration of God's greatness) suffices as remembrance of Allah.
Supporting text
The majority of scholars, including Ibn Umar, Al-Nakha'i, Al-Thawri, Malik, Al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifa, and the jurists of the major cities, do not permit reducing the prayer to one Rak'ah, asserting that fear does not affect the number of Rak'ahs. Those among them who permitted reduction specified it only for intense fighting. Furthermore, most narrators of the Prophet's Prayer of Fear did not reduce it below two Rak'ahs. Since Ibn Abbas was not present in many battles, the narrations of those who witnessed and performed the prayer with the Prophet are prioritized.