وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَوةَ...
WHEN THEY PROSTRATED (HAVE THEIR PRAYER FINISHED) LET THEM TAKE THEIR POSITION IN THE REAR OF YOU, AND LET ANOTHER PARTY WHO HAVE NOT PRAYED, COME UP AND PRAY WITH YOU. THESE TOO, [ 580 ] SHOULD TAKE THEIR ARMS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. THE INFIDELS WISH YOU TO BE HEEDLESS OF YOUR WEAPON AND YOUR BAGGAGE TO MAKE AN ASSAULT ON YOU AT ONCE. THERE IS NO BLAME ON YOU IF YOU PUT AWAY YOUR ARMS WHEN YOU ARE ANNOYED BY RAIN, OR IF YOU ARE SICK, BUT HAVE WITH YOU, YOUR PRECAUTIONARY MEANS.
(SUCH AS YOUR HELMET AND YOUR CHAIN MAIL) ALLAH HAS PREPARED FOR THE UNBELIEVERS A HUMILIATING PUNISHMENT. THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVELATION. (VERSE NO. 102) The prophet in accompany with a great many Muslims, set out of Medina with the intention of performing the rites of pilgrimage in Mecca. When they reached a land named HUDAYBIYEH, near the sacred town, the Meccan idolaters became aware of the prophet's approach, and decided to prevent them coming nearer.
They mobilized a battalion, consisting of two hundred warriors commanded by KHALID- IBN- VALID, to stop Mohammad and his followers to come closer. KHALID concealed his forces behind the hills and beyond the rocks, waiting for the afternoon prayer to keep the Muslims busy in worship of God, so that they might make an assault on them at once to defeat them unexpectedly and by surprise attack. To this effect the above verse which is known as the verse of fear, revealed.
THE PRAYER IN FEAR The congregational prayer in danger and fear and close to enemy, rests on the principle that the congregation should be divided [ 581 ] into two parties. Then those prayers that consist of four units (RAK'AT) are reduced to only two units. One party prays while the second party watches the enemy or attends the fights.