عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَزَلَ بَيْنَ ضَجْنَانَ وَعُسْفَانَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ: لِهَؤُلَاءِ صَلَاةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَبْنَائِهِمْ وَهِيَ الْعَصْرُ فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ فَتَمِيلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقْسِمَ أَصْحَابَهُ شَطْرَيْنِ فَيُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ وَتَقُومَ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى وَرَاءَهُمْ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ رَكْعَةٌ وَلِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَكْعَتَانِ
Abu Hurayrah told how when God’s Messenger encamped between Dajnan and Usfan1 the polytheists said, “These people observe a prayer which is dearer to them than their fathers and their sons, and it is the afternoon prayer, so join together and attach them in a single rush.”2 But Gabriel came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and ordered him to divide his companions into two divisions and lead one section in prayer while another stood behind them on guard and armed.
They would pray one raka and God’s Messenger two. 1. Dajnan is a mountain near Mecca and Usfan, a place two days journey from Mecca on the way to Medina. 2. Cf. Al-Qur’an; 4:102. Tirmidhi and Nasai transmitted it.