Musnad Ahmad 12487

Verily, I would stand up for prayer intending to prolong it, but I hear the crying of an infant, so I shorten my prayer lest I make it burdensome for his mother

Abu Qatādah and Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily, I would stand up for (congregational) prayer intending to prolong it, but I hear the crying of an infant, so I shorten my prayer lest I make…

"‏إني لأقوم إلى الصلاة، وأريد أن أطول فيها ، فأسمع بكاء الصبي، فأتجوز في صلاتي كراهية أن أشق على أمه‏"

Narrated by Abu Qatāda + 6 other versions Explained

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When I start the prayer I intend to prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut short the prayer because I know that the cries of the child will incite its mother's passions."

لأَدْخُلُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا، فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ، فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلاَتِي مِمَّا أَعْلَمُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ مِنْ بُكَائِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 4 other versions

I never prayed behind any Imam a prayer lighter and more perfect than that behind the Prophet (ﷺ) and he used to cut short the prayer whenever he heard the cries of a child lest he should put the child's mother to trial.

لَيَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَيُخَفِّفُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تُفْتَنَ أُمُّهُ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 1 other version

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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.

يَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ مَعَ أُمِّهِ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَقْرَأُ بِالسُّورَةِ الْخَفِيفَةِ أَوْ بِالسُّورَةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 1 other version

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘I hear an infant crying so I make the prayer short.’”

"‏ إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏"

Narrated by Uthmān ibn Abu al-‘ās

Allah's Messenger said: "Indeed I hear the crying of a small boy while I am in Salat, so I shorten it in fear that his mother may be tormented."

"‏ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ وَأَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَأُخَفِّفُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تُفْتَتَنَ أُمُّهُ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik