Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَزْدِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْيَشْكُرِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ إِقْصَارِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْخَوْفِ أَيْنَ أُنْزِلَ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ؟ فَقَالَ خَرَجْنَا نَتَلَقَّى عِيرًا لِقُرَيْشٍ أَتَتْ مِنَ الشَّامِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِنَخْلٍ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسَيْفُهُ مَوْضُوعٌ فَقَالَ أَنْتَ مُحَمَّدٌ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قَالَ أَمَا تَخَافُنِي؟ قَالَ «لَا» قَالَ فَمَنْ يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي؟ قَالَ «اللَّهُ يَمْنَعُنِي مِنْكَ» قَالَ فَسَلَّ سَيْفَهُ وَتَهَدَّدَهُ الْقَوْمُ وَأَوْعَدُوهُ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ بِالرَّحِيلِ وَبِأَخْذِ السِّلَاحِ ثُمَّ نَادَى بِالصَّلَاةِ فَصَلَّتْ طَائِفَةٌ خَلْفَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ تَحْرُسُ مُقْبِلِينَ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالطَّائِفَةِ الَّتِي مَعَهُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَقْبَلَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الْأُخْرَى فَقَامَتْ فِي مَصَافِّ الَّذِينَ صَلَّوْا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَحَرَسَتِ الطَّائِفَةُ الَّذِينَ صَلَّوْا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُمْ مُقْبِلُونَ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَصَارَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرْبَعًا وَلِأَصْحَابِهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ
English Translation
Sulayman al-Yashkuri asked Jabir ibn Abdullah about shortening the prayer in fear - where it was revealed. He said: We went out to intercept a caravan of Quraysh coming from Syria. When we were at Nakhl, a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with his sword and said: 'Are you Muhammad?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Do you not fear me?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Who will protect you from me?' He said: 'Allah will protect me from you.' He sheathed his sword. The people threatened him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered the people to depart and take their weapons, then called for prayer. One group prayed behind him and another group stood guard facing the enemy. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prayed two rak'ahs with the group with him. The other group came and stood in the ranks of those who had prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), while those who had prayed stood guard facing the enemy. He prayed two rak'ahs with them. Thus it was four rak'ahs for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and two rak'ahs for his Companions.