5 Ahadith Regarding Long Prayers, Calmness, and Imamah
Not Driving People Away with Long Prayers
Sayyiduna Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates:
"A man complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, saying:
‘O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I do not attend the Fajr prayer in congregation because so-and-so makes the prayer too long.’
Abu Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه says: ‘I have never seen the Prophet ﷺ more angry in giving advice than he was on that day (regarding long prayers).’
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‘You are making people dislike (the prayer)! When you lead the people, make the prayer light, for among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs.’"
(Bukhari, Adhan, Chapter: The Imam Shortening the Standing While Completing Bowing and Prostration, 703; Muslim: 466)
Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn Abi al-‘As رضي الله عنه narrates:
"The last advice the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me was:
‘When you lead the people, make the prayer light, for among them are the elderly, the sick, the weak, and those with work to do. But when you pray alone, you may lengthen it as much as you wish.’"
(Muslim, Prayer, Chapter: The Command to the Imams to Lighten the Prayer in Its Completeness, 466)
Clarification of “Light Prayer”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The best prayer is the one with long standing (qiyam)."
(Muslim, Prayer of the Traveller, Chapter: The Best Prayer is Long Standing, 756)
Avoiding Haste
Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه says:
"We were praying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he heard noise from some people. After the prayer, he asked:
‘What is this?’
They said: ‘We were hurrying to join the prayer.’
He said: ‘Do not do that. When you come to the prayer, come with calmness. Whatever you catch, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards.’"
(Bukhari: 635; Muslim, Mosques, Chapter: Recommendation of Coming to Prayer with Calmness, 602)
At the Time of Iqamah
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the iqamah for the obligatory prayer is given, do not come running; rather, come with calmness. Pray whatever you catch and complete what you miss. For when you intend the prayer, you are already in prayer."
(Muslim: 602)
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
"Whoever performs wudu well, then goes to the mosque and finds that the people have finished the prayer, will still receive the full reward of praying in congregation without any reduction."
(Abu Dawud, Prayer, Chapter: One Who Goes Out for Prayer but Misses It, 564)
The Prophet ﷺ Praying Behind ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه
During the expedition of Tabuk:
"One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to relieve himself and then made wudu. When he returned, he found ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه leading the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ prayed one rak‘ah behind him.
When ‘Abd al-Rahman finished both rak‘ahs, he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ standing to complete his prayer.
After the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ said:
‘You did well. Continue praying at the appointed times.’"
(Muslim, Prayer, Chapter: The Congregation Appointing One to Lead If the Imam is Late, 274)
This incident clearly proves that:
◈ The Prophet’s ﷺ Anger Over Lengthy Prayers
Not Driving People Away with Long Prayers
Sayyiduna Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates:
"A man complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, saying:
‘O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I do not attend the Fajr prayer in congregation because so-and-so makes the prayer too long.’
Abu Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه says: ‘I have never seen the Prophet ﷺ more angry in giving advice than he was on that day (regarding long prayers).’
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‘You are making people dislike (the prayer)! When you lead the people, make the prayer light, for among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs.’"
(Bukhari, Adhan, Chapter: The Imam Shortening the Standing While Completing Bowing and Prostration, 703; Muslim: 466)
The Prophet’s ﷺ Last Advice
Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn Abi al-‘As رضي الله عنه narrates:
"The last advice the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me was:
‘When you lead the people, make the prayer light, for among them are the elderly, the sick, the weak, and those with work to do. But when you pray alone, you may lengthen it as much as you wish.’"
(Muslim, Prayer, Chapter: The Command to the Imams to Lighten the Prayer in Its Completeness, 466)
Clarification of “Light Prayer”
- Light prayer does not mean rushing or omitting proper bowing, prostration, qawmah, or jalsah.
- Calmness and proper completion of each pillar (tuma’ninah) are obligatory; without them the prayer is invalid.
- It does not permit reciting the Qur’an so quickly that it compromises proper recitation.
- Lightening the prayer means keeping the recitation moderate without eliminating khushu‘ and khudu‘.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The best prayer is the one with long standing (qiyam)."
(Muslim, Prayer of the Traveller, Chapter: The Best Prayer is Long Standing, 756)
◈ Coming to Prayer with Calmness
Avoiding Haste
Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه says:
"We were praying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he heard noise from some people. After the prayer, he asked:
‘What is this?’
They said: ‘We were hurrying to join the prayer.’
He said: ‘Do not do that. When you come to the prayer, come with calmness. Whatever you catch, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards.’"
(Bukhari: 635; Muslim, Mosques, Chapter: Recommendation of Coming to Prayer with Calmness, 602)
At the Time of Iqamah
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the iqamah for the obligatory prayer is given, do not come running; rather, come with calmness. Pray whatever you catch and complete what you miss. For when you intend the prayer, you are already in prayer."
(Muslim: 602)
◈ Reward for Attending Even After the Congregation Ends
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
"Whoever performs wudu well, then goes to the mosque and finds that the people have finished the prayer, will still receive the full reward of praying in congregation without any reduction."
(Abu Dawud, Prayer, Chapter: One Who Goes Out for Prayer but Misses It, 564)
◈ The Best Person Acting as a Follower
The Prophet ﷺ Praying Behind ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه
During the expedition of Tabuk:
"One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to relieve himself and then made wudu. When he returned, he found ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه leading the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ prayed one rak‘ah behind him.
When ‘Abd al-Rahman finished both rak‘ahs, he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ standing to complete his prayer.
After the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ said:
‘You did well. Continue praying at the appointed times.’"
(Muslim, Prayer, Chapter: The Congregation Appointing One to Lead If the Imam is Late, 274)
This incident clearly proves that:
- A person superior in virtue may pray as a follower.
