Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Malik bin Abdullah narrates that I participated in a battle with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I have not seen any imam who led the obligatory prayers shorter than the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the prayer briefly and perfectly.

Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah narrates that the prayer and sermon of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to be moderate.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Keep the prayer short, for among the people are the weak, the elderly, and those who have some urgent need.

Hazrat Abu Masood narrates that a man came to the service of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "I miss the Fajr prayer because so-and-so leads a very long prayer!" Upon this, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to give a sermon, and I have never seen him so angry during any sermon as I saw him that day. Addressing the people, he said, "O people! Some of you make others dislike the religion. Whoever among you leads the prayer should keep it short, because among the people are the weak, the elderly, and those who have urgent needs."

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Hazrat Mu'adh led his companions in prayer and recited Surah Al-Baqarah in it. Upon this, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, "O Mu'adh! Do you want to put people into trial? Do you want to put them into trial?!"

Hazrat Uthman bin Abi Al-Aas narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Lead your people in prayer, and whoever leads a people in prayer should make it short, because among the people are the weak, the elderly, and those who have urgent needs. However, when you pray alone, you may make it as long as you wish.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the most concise and complete prayer among all people.

Hazrat Abbas Jashmi says that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Some imams drive people away from the congregation."

The mention of prayer was made in the presence of Hazrat Abu Waqid Al-Laithi, so he said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the one who led the people in the shortest prayer and had the greatest control over himself.

Hazrat Adi bin Hatim narrates that whoever leads us in prayer should perform the bowing and prostration properly, because among us are weak, elderly, those in a hurry due to some work, the sick, and travelers. We used to offer prayer in the same manner with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

Hazrat Thabit says that I offered the Isha prayer with Hazrat Anas, and he made it as brief as Allah willed.

Hazrat Mus'ab bin Sa'd says that when my father used to pray in the mosque, he would keep the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajda) short and perform a light prayer, but when he prayed at home, he would prolong the prayer and the bowing and prostration. I asked him about this, and he replied, "We are those imams who are followed (in prayer)."

Hazrat Abu Raja says that I saw Hazrat Zubair bin Al-Awwam lead a very brief prayer. I said to him, "Being a companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), do you perform such a short prayer?" Hazrat Zubair replied, "We want to ward off these distractions (whispers)."

Hazrat Ammar says: Complete this prayer (obligatory) before satanic whispers come.

Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) instructed a man while teaching him that a person should keep the prayer brief and perform the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajdah) completely.

Ismail narrates that his father (Abu Khalid) used to pray behind Abu Hurairah. Abu Hurairah’s prayer was like the prayer of Qais; he would perform the bowing and prostration properly, but he would keep the prayer brief. Abu Hurairah was asked about this: Was the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) like this? He replied, “It was like this, rather it was even briefer than this.”

Hazrat Abu Khalid says that I saw Hazrat Abu Hurairah performing a very short prayer. I asked him, "Was the prayer of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) like this?" He replied, "Yes, it used to be even shorter than this."

Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon says that when Hazrat Umar was stabbed with a spear and the people scattered, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf stepped forward and led the prayer. In this prayer, he recited two short surahs from the Holy Quran: Surah Al-Kawthar and Surah An-Nasr.

Ibrahim used to shorten the prayer, but he used to perform the bowing and prostration completely.

Hazrat Abu Majliz says that the predecessors used to perform the prayer completely, but kept it concise, and protected it from satanic whispers.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prayer of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the shortest and lightest among all people.

Hazrat Amr bin Maimoon says that I have never seen a prayer as brief as the one I saw between these two walls, that is, in the Grand Mosque of Kufa.

Hazrat Nu’man bin Qais says that when women would pass by Hazrat ‘Ubaidah and he would be praying, they would say to each other, “Lead a short prayer, for look how brief Hazrat ‘Ubaidah’s prayer is.”