Is the performance of Salat al-Khawf (Fear Prayer) established by Islamic sources?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of the Prayer of Fear
Primary text
The legality of Salat al-Khawf is established by both the Quran and the Sunnah. The Quranic basis is found in the verse: "And when you are among them and lead them in prayer..." (Quran 4:102). The Sunnah confirms that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to perform Salat al-Khawf. The majority of scholars agree that the ruling regarding Salat al-Khawf remains valid after the Prophet's passing. The justification for its general applicability is that whatever is established for the Prophet also applies to the community unless there is specific textual evidence restricting it, as God commanded adherence to him via the verse: "So follow him" (Quran 6:153). Furthermore, the Companions consistently used the Prophet's actions as proof, even to override opposing narrations, as seen when Aisha and Umm Salamah's report about the Prophet's state after seminal emission superseded Abu Hurayrah's narration regarding fasting.
Supporting text
Abu Yusuf held that Salat al-Khawf was specific to the Prophet because the address in the verse begins with, "And when you [singular masculine] are among them..." This view is rejected because the Prophet's actions serve as legal precedent for the community unless explicitly restricted.