Performing Salah (Prayer) in Battlefield

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When horses roam and swords shake, two Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) are sufficient for him and this is another reduction.”’

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) in frightening conditions during pursuits and the skirmishes, has said, ‘Every one of them perform Salah (prayer) by making gestures to whatever direction they face, even if swords work neck and neck and the fight goes on in a hand-to- hand manner. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), performed Salah (prayer) during the night of Siffin which is called Lilatu al-Harir. Their Salah (prayer) of al-Dhuhr, al-‘Asr, al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ were only Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), Tahlil, (no one deserves worship except Allah), Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects), Tahmid (all praise belongs to Allah) and supplications. It was their Salah (prayer) and they were not commanded to perform Salah (prayer) again.’”

minimum recitation when swords are at work is two Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) for every Salah (prayer) except that there are three Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) for al-Maghrib.”

“About the word of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is permissible for you to reduce of Salah (prayer) if you fear that the unbelievers may create mischief for you,’ (4:101), abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two Rak‘at becomes one Rak‘at.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about Salah (prayer) during fighting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they meet (the armies) and kill each other, then Salah (prayer) in such time is Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), but if they are standing and are not able to overpower the group, then it is in the form of gestures.’”

“Once, I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a soldier who does not have Wudu’ and what is he required to do when he is not able to dismount? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can make Tayammum on his pad, saddle or mane of his stumper over which dust accumulates. He then performs Salah (prayer), makes Sujud (prostrations) lower than Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and does not turn to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) but turns his face wherever his stumper goes, except that he turns to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) when saying the first Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) when paying attention.’”

“I once asked my brother, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about one who faces a beast and it is time for Salah (prayer). He is not able to walk, because of fear from the beast. If he stands up he fears to perform Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) or Sujud (prostrations) with the beast in front of him in a direction other than that of al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah). If he turns to al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah), he fears the lion’s attack. What is he required to do in such case? He (the Imam) said, ‘ He faces the lion and performs his Salah (prayer) with gestures in a standing position, if the lion is in a direction other than that for al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah).’”