This is further supported by the fact that a man complained to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—saying, “I often delay the Fajr prayer because of So-and-so, due to the length with which he leads us in prayer.” The narrator said: “I never saw the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—more intensely angry in an admonition than he was that day.” He said: “O people, among you are those who drive others away. Whoever among you leads the people in prayer, then let him keep it brief, for behind him are the elderly, the weak, and those with needs.” (1) What is meant by brevity is that which conforms to the sunnah.

If the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—became angry in this admonition because of excessive length, then how can we say that keeping the prayer brief is merely sunnah?

Therefore, the view supported by the evidence is that making the prayer longer than the sunnah prescribes is forbidden, because the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—became angry on account of it.

Furthermore, the author’s words indicate that completing the prayer is sunnah. However, this requires reconsideration, because the imam acts on behalf of others, and whoever acts on behalf of others is obliged to do what is best. As for one who acts for himself, he may do whatever is permissible for him.

For example, if I own a book worth ten riyals and sell it for eight, that is permissible, since it would be permissible for me even to give it away free of charge. But if someone appointed me to sell it, and it was worth ten, then I sold it for eight, that would not be permissible. There is a difference between one who acts for himself and one who acts on behalf of another. The imam is entrusted with the prayer, so how can we say that he may fall short in the prayer, and that completing it is merely sunnah in his case?!