Qatadah said: Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated to us that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) brought them (the prayers) to his people, he left them alone until, when the sun had declined from the middle of the sky, it was announced among the people: "The prayer is about to begin." The people were alarmed and gathered, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in four rak'ahs in which he did not recite aloud; the people followed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) followed Jibril (peace be upon him). Then, when the sun had sloped down from the middle of the sky, that is, inclined towards the west, while it was still white and bright, the people were called: "The prayer is about to begin." The people were alarmed at this and gathered, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in four rak'ahs of the Asr prayer, in which he did not recite aloud; the people followed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kept following Jibril (peace be upon him). Then, when the sun had set, the people were called: "The prayer is about to begin." They gathered, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in three rak'ahs; he recited in the first two rak'ahs and did not in one, meaning aloud; the people were following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was following Jibril (peace be upon him). Then, when the redness of twilight had disappeared, the people were called: "The prayer is about to begin." They gathered, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in four rak'ahs; he recited aloud in two rak'ahs and did not in two; the people were following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was following Jibril (peace be upon him). The people went to sleep not knowing whether anything more would be added or not, until, when dawn broke, they were called: "The prayer is about to begin." The people gathered, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led them in two rak'ahs with lengthy recitation; the people were following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was following Jibril (peace be upon him).
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الصلاة / 1695