According to Taberî, prayer during fear is performed by gesturing instead of bowing and prostration while on a mount, based on an interpretation transmitted from Ibn Abbas. In severe fear, a person performs prayer either on foot or mounted, in whatever direction they are facing; this dispensation applies only to severe fear situations where performing the essentials of prayer would likely lead to destruction. When fear subsides—even during travel—prayer must be performed with its bowing, prostration, and conditions while standing on the ground, because the verse contains no mention of travel.

وإنما قلنا: إن الخوف الذي يجوز للمصلي أن يصلي كذلك هو الذي الأغلب منه الهلاك بإقامة الصلاة بحدودها، وذلك حال شدة الخوف

According to this exegete, the verse indicates that dispensation is granted in the essentials of prayer such as standing, bowing, and prostration during fear; the expressions 'racâlen' (on foot) and 'rukbânen' (mounted) indicate that in severe fear, turning toward the qibla and performing full bowing-prostration can be abandoned and replaced with gesture. The exegete states that prayer consists of three elements: intention, recitation, and bodily actions; while intention and recitation do not fall away, standing, position, and facing the qibla fall away, and gesture becomes valid instead of bowing-prostration.

أما القيام والقعود فساقطان عنه لا محالة وأما الاستقبال فساقط على ما بيناه ، وأما الركوع والسجود فالإيماء قائم مقامهما ، فيجب أن يجعل الإيماء النائب عن السجود أخفض من الإيماء النائب عن الركوع

Kurtubî explains in this verse that the word 'racâlen' is the plural of 'racul' and refers to a person walking on foot when no mount is available. He relates that Mujahid interpreted the phrase 'emintüm' as returning from the land of travel to the land of residence, and that Taberî objected to this. He notes that a group of scholars interpreted 'emintüm' as the removal of the fear that made this form of prayer obligatory; in this context, he lists the different views of Malik, Abu Hanifa, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Yusuf regarding how an anxious person should complete prayer once they gain security.

واختلف العلماء من هذا الباب في بناء الخائف إذا أمن فقال مالك : إن صلى ركعة آمنا ثم خاف ركب وبنى وكذلك إن صلى ركعة راكبا وهو خائف ثم أمن نزل وبنى

According to Ibn Kathir, this verse indicates that in situations of fear or battle where prayer cannot be performed with its complete essentials, a person may pray on foot or mounted, whether facing the qibla or not, in whatever state they are in. In this context, when fighting intensifies (in the situation of mesâyefe), according to some scholars, prayer can be performed in one unit, or if possible cannot be found, only through gesture, or the prayer time can be postponed.

فصلوا على أي حال كان رجالا أو ركبانا يعني مستقبلي القبلة وغير مستقبليها

According to this exegete, the expressions 'racâlen' and 'rukbânen' indicate that prayer during fear can be performed on foot or mounted; this situation is evidence that prayer remains obligatory even during combat. Additionally, the expression 'fâzkurûllâhe kemâ 'allemeküm' refers to praying in the manner Allah taught during security or showing gratitude for this blessing.

وفيه دليل على وجوب الصلاة حال المسايفة وإليه ذهب الشافعي رضي الله تعالى عنه، وقال أبو حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى لا يصلى حال المشي والمسايفة ما لم يكن الوقوف