CHAPTER: THE DUTY OF THE IMAM IS TO BE BRIEF AND PERFECT IN PRAYER
No. 940
Abu Mas'ud al-Ainsari reported: A person came to the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long. I never saw God's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people, some of you are scaring people away. So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief, for behind him are the weak, the aged, and the people who have (argent) business to attend.
No. 941
This hadith like one narrated by Hashalm has been narrated from Isma'il with the same chain of transmitters.
No. 942
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.
No. 943
Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.
No. 944
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When any one of you leads people in prayer, he must shorten it for among them are the weak, the infirm and those who have business to attend.
No. 945
Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported that he had heard Abu Huraira say that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said like it, but he substituted" the aged" for 'the infirm".
No. 946
Uthman b. Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported: The Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allaah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.
No. 947
Uthman b. Abu'l-'As reported: The last thing which the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer, be brief.
No. 948
Anas reported: The Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to be brief and perfect in prayer.
No. 949
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) was among those whose prayers was brief and perfect.
No. 950
Anas reported: I never prayed behind an Imam who was more brief and more perfect in prayer than the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam).
No. 951
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.
No. 952
Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) having said: When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.