Quran Garden

Session 258

Chapter 2

Verses 238 & 239

Maintain with care the prayers and in particular the middle prayer and stand devoutly before God.  But if you are in danger, pray as you are out walking or riding; when you are safe again, remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.

(Chapter 2: Verses 238 & 239)

To be devout is to be committed and loyal.  God says:

What about someone who worships devoutly during the night, bowing down, standing in prayer, ever mindful of the life to come, hoping for his Lord’s mercy? Say, ‘How can those who know be equal to those who do not know?’ Only those who have understanding will take heed. (39:09)

Allah is inviting you to compare two types of people: the first are those who worship God with love and devotion; they forgo sleep to be with their Lord in prayer and strive for His mercy and blessings.  The second type are those who forget God in their daily lives until they are in trouble; only then, they turn to Him for help.  Do those who honor God's rights equal to those who ascribe partners to Him or are too distracted to remember their Lord?  

What is the best way to keep God in mind? The best way to be close to your Lord is to maintain your daily prayers properly.  Prayers are the firm connection you have with your Lord that renews five times a day.   Prophet Muhammad asked: “If one of you had a river by his house and he bathed in it five times a day, would there be any dirt left on him whatsoever?” The companions answered: “None, oh Messenger of God, he would be perfectly clean.”  He –peace be upon him- replied: “So are the five daily prayers, God forgives and washes your sins with them.” 

The daily prayers are so critical that we are commanded to establish them even during battle.  That is why God had legislated the ‘fear prayer.’  God advises: “But if you are in danger, pray as you are out walking or riding.” So even if you fear for your life, you should not forget about your Lord; because, in that situation, you are in dire need of Him.  Do not turn a situation where you should remember God –such as in the midst of a battle- into an excuse to forget God.

Likewise, when you are ill, you should remember God in prayers.  Do not use your weakness as an excuse to forget God.  There is no excuse to skip prayers.  If you are too sick to pray standing, you must pray sitting.  If you are too weak to pray sitting, you should pray lying down, and if that is not possible, then pray with eye movements. 

Allah directs the Muslim soldier who is in danger to pray while walking, riding or driving.  At the time of prophet Muhammad –peace be upon him-, God commanded the Muslim soldiers to pray in two groups: the first group prays the first rak’ah –unit of prayer- with the Prophet and then complete their prayer individually; then a second group comes to pray the second rak’ah with the prophet and complete the prayer on their own.  In this manner, the first group earns the blessings of starting their prayer with the Prophet and the second group earns the blessings of completing the prayer with him.  Moreover, this arrangement allowed for a group of the Muslims to be on guard while their fellow soldiers pray.

My opinion in this matter is that the ‘fear prayer’ as we just described was only for battles in which the Messenger of God was present.  It was meant to guarantee that the entire Army had the honor of praying with the Prophet.  But after the Messenger passed away, it is logical for both parties to pray at different times behind separate scholars or imams.  There is no longer a need –after the prophet’s passing- to split the prayer. 

The phrase “But if you are in danger, pray as you are out walking or riding“ reaffirms that the obligatory daily prayers are not to be dismissed even under fire.  During war, when the time for prayer arrives, the believer must pray.  If he or she can’t perform the prayer physically, then he or she must say the words of the prayers and be in remembrance of God.  He says “remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.” Had Allah not taught you how to be in His company, you would have been in a total loss.