Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah narrates that some people complained to Hazrat Umar about Hazrat Sa’d and objected to his manner of performing prayer. Hazrat Umar wrote a letter and summoned him. When he arrived, Hazrat Umar informed him of the people’s complaint and their objection to his way of praying. Hazrat Sa’d said, “I lead them in prayer as per the manner of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); I make the first two rak’ahs long and the last two rak’ahs short.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Umar said, “O Abu Ishaq! This is exactly what I thought of you.”

Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that we used to estimate the duration of the standing (qiyam) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Zuhr and Asr prayers. In the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr, he would recite about thirty verses, and in the last two rak'ahs, he would stand for about half that duration. Similarly, in the first two rak'ahs of Asr, he would stand for the same duration as the last two rak'ahs of Zuhr, and in the last two rak'ahs of Asr, he would stand for about half the duration of the first two rak'ahs.

Hazrat Abu Qatadah narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to lead us in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr in such a way that he would recite more in the first rak'ah and less in the second. He would also lead the Fajr prayer in such a way that he would recite more in the first rak'ah and less in the second. And he used to lead the first two rak'ahs of Asr in the same manner.

Hazrat Abu Usman says that Hazrat Umar used to pray at the time of the sun's decline and would lengthen the first rak'ah.

Hazrat Khalid bin Abi Bakr says that I offered prayer behind Hazrat Qasim; he used to make the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha longer than the last two rak'ahs.

Hazrat Khalid bin Abi Bakr says that I offered prayer behind Hazrat Salim; he also used to do the same, and Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz also used to do the same.

Hazrat Dahhak bin Uthman narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz led us in the Zuhr prayer; he prolonged the first two rak‘ahs and shortened the last two rak‘ahs, and he also shortened the ‘Asr prayer.

Hazrat Mak'hool used to lengthen the first rak'ah.

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates that Hazrat Uthman used to lengthen the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr and would recite Surah Al-Baqarah in them.