‘Uthman b. Abul ‘As said that the last command God’s messenger gave him was, “When you act as imam for people, make the prayer short." Muslim transmitted it. In a version by him it says that God's messenger said to him, “Act as imam for your people” to which he said he replied, “Messenger of God, I find a defect in myself.” Telling him to come near and making him sit down in front of him, he placed his hand on his breast between his nipples; then telling him to turn round, he placed it on his back between his shoulders. He then said, “Act as imam for your people. Whoever acts as imam for people must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are people who have business to do. But when any of you prays alone he may pray as he likes.”
Reported by Muslim (No. 468b), Ibn Majah (No. 988) and Ahmad (No. 15686). Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 1134).
وعن أبى مسعود عقبة بن عمرو البدرى رضي الله عنه قال: جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: إنى لأتأخر عن صلاة الصبح من أجل فلان مما يطيل بنا! فما رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم غضب في موعظة قط أشد مما غضب…
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إذا صلى أحدكم للناس، فليخفف، فإن فيهم الضعيف والسقيم والكبير. وإذا صلى لنفسه فليطول ما شاء" ((متفق عليه)) . (10)
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ: { إِذَا أَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ اَلنَّاسَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ, فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ اَلصَّغِيرَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا اَلْحَاجَةِ…
كَانَ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمَهُ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمُ الصَّلاَةَ، فَقَرَأَ بِهِمُ الْبَقَرَةَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَتَجَوَّزَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى صَلاَةً خَفِيفَةً، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاذًا…
Abu Mas‘ūd al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, I would almost fail to attend the prayer because so-and-so prolongs it when he leads us." I never saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) more angry in giving admonition than he…
