Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was walking with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and we intended to go to the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was taking short steps. He asked: Do you know why I am taking short steps? I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The servant continues to be counted as being in prayer as long as he is in pursuit of the prayer." Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. In another narration from this Companion the words are: "I did this only so that my steps in pursuit of the prayer would be more."
Its chain contains al-Dahhak bin Nibras, who is da'if (weak). The author also recorded it as mawquf (stopping) at Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him), and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الصلاة / 2092
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف مرفوعاً
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 4799»