We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Usfan when the polytheists confronted us, led by Khalid bin Walid, and they were positioned between us and the qiblah. The Prophet ﷺ led us in the noon prayer.The polytheists said, "They were just now in a state where, had we caught them off guard, we could have struck them." Then they said, "Another prayer is coming up for them shortly that is dearer to them than their children and their own selves."So Jibreel descended with these verses between the noon and afternoon prayers, "When you are among them and lead them in prayer" [Nisa 4:102].When the time for prayer came, the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to take up their weapons. We formed two rows behind him. He performed the bowing, and we all bowed with him. Then he rose, and we all rose with him. Then the Prophet ﷺ prostrated together with the row immediately behind him, while the other row remained standing to guard them. When the first row had prostrated and stood up, the other row sat down and prostrated in their places. Then the front row moved back to take the position of the rear row, and the rear row moved forward to take the position of the front row.Then he bowed, and they all bowed with him. Then he rose, and they all rose with him. Then the Prophet ﷺ prostrated together with the row immediately behind him, while the other row remained standing to guard them. When he sat, the other row also sat and prostrated. Then he gave the salam to them, and the prayer was concluded.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed this prayer in this manner twice, once at Usfan and once in the territory of Banu Sulaym.
كنا مع رسول الله ﷺ بعسفان، فاستقبلنا المشركون، عليهم خالد بن الوليد، وهم بيننا وبين القبلة، فصلى بنا النبي ﷺ الظهر، فقالوا: قد كانوا على حال لو أصبنا غرتهم، ثم قالوا: تأتي عليهم الآن صلاة هي أحب إليهم من أبنائهم وأنفسهم. قال فنزل جبريل بهذه الآيات بين الظهر والعصر: {وإذا كنت فيهم فأقمت لهم الصلوة} [النساء: ١٠٢] قال: فحضرت فأمرهم النبي ﷺ فأخذوا السلاح، قال: فصففنا خلفه صفين، قال: ثم ركع، فركعنا جميعا، ثم رفع، فرفعنا جميعا ثم سجد النبي ﷺ بالصف الذي يليه، والآخرون قيام يحرسونهم، فلما سجدوا وقاموا، جلس الآخرون، فسجدوا في مكانهم، ثم تقدم هؤلاء إلى مصاف هؤلاء، وجاء هؤلاء إلى مصاف هؤلاء، قال: ثم ركع، فركعوا جميعا، ثم رفع، فرفعوا جميعا، ثم سجد النبي ﷺ والصف الذي يليه، والآخرون قيام يحرسونهم، فلما جلس، جلس الآخرون فسجدوا، ثم سلم عليهم، ثم انصرف قال: فصلاها رسول الله ﷺ له مرتين: مرة بعسفان ومرة بأرض بني سليم.