How can the two Hadiths in An-Nasa'i be reconciled concerning the Prophet's prayer (peace be upon him) at Dhat al-Riqa’, one of which mentions him praying two rak'ahs and the followers one rak'ah each, and the other mentions him praying four rak'ahs and them two rak'ahs each, when both were authenticated by Al-Albani? And is the statement that the followers pray one rak'ah and the Imam two rak'ahs considered valid?

The congregants (ma'moomoon) in the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf) can pray only one rak'ah. This view has been adopted by a group of the Companions and Tabi'un, as narrated by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar from Mujahid and Ibn Abbas, and agreed upon by Ishaq, Al-Thawri, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari, and some of the Tabi'un.

One of the forms of the prayer of fear is for the Imam to pray four rak'ahs with two salams, and for the congregants to pray two rak'ahs. Some scholars hold the view that it is permissible for this to be done with one salam. The Imam's second prayer is considered a supererogatory (nafilah) prayer, and Al-Shafi'i used this as evidence for the permissibility of one who is praying an obligatory (fard) prayer to pray behind one who is praying a supererogatory prayer.

As for the hadith of Jabir, from which it is understood that the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed four rak'ahs with one salam, there was a difference of opinion among scholars concerning it. Some interpreted it as a description of the prayer of fear, holding that a traveler has the choice between completing the prayer and shortening it, and that the Prophet (peace be upon him) completed it in this instance. Others interpreted it as him having given salam after two rak'ahs, and that his second prayer was supererogatory.