Salah of a Muhajir and an Ansari Keeping Watch
While returning from a campaign, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) happened to halt for the night at some place. He asked who would keep watch over the camp this night. Ammar Ibn Yasir (radiyallahu anhu) of the muhajirin and Abbad Ibn Bishr of the ansar offered their services. Both of them were posted to watch from a hill-top against any possible might attack by the enemy.
Abbad said to Ammar: “Let us keep watch and sleep turn by turn. In the first half of the night I shall keep awake, while you go to sleep. In the next half, you may keep watch while I go to sleep. Ammar agreed and went to sleep, and Abbad started his salah.
But someone from the enemy saw him in the dark from a distance, and let fly an arrow at him. Seeing that he made movement, he shot another and still another arrow at him. Abbad drew out and threw away each arrow as it struck him, and at last awakened his companion. The enemy fled when he saw them both together, fearing that there might be many more of them.
Ammar saw Abbad bleeding from three places. He said: “Subhanallah! why did you not awake me earlier?” Abbad replied: “I had started reciting surah al-kahf in my salah. I did not like to cut it short, but when I was struck by the third arrow, I was greatly concerned that my death might jeopardize the safety of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). I therefore finished the salah and awakened you. But for this fear, I would not have gone in to ruku before finishing the surah even if I had been killed”
Note: Look at the devotion of the sahabah to their salah. One arrow after another is piercing Abbad’s body and he is bleeding profusely, but is not prepared to sacrifice the pleasure of reciting the Quran in his salah. On the other hand, the bite of a wasp, nay of a mosquito, is enough to distract us from our salah.
According to the hanafi school of Islamic law, wudu breaks with bleeding, while according to the shafi school of Islamic law it does not. It is just possible that Abbad might be having the latter view, or that hist point might not have been brought up till then.