say: “A man’s lengthy prayer and brief sermon are a sign of his understanding. Therefore, prolong the prayer and shorten the sermon. Indeed, some eloquence is magic.”’”
Sahih Muslim relates that Jābir ibn Samura (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I used to perform the prayers with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his prayer was well balanced”—that is, moderate.
His practice, which he established as a sunnah for his community, constitutes the lightening that he commanded prayer leaders to observe. Since lightening is a relative matter, its proper measure must be referred back to the sunnah. This is illustrated by the report related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim in their two Sahih collections from Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “Mu'ādh would pray with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return and lead us in prayer”—in one telling: “then return and pray with his people”—“and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed.” In one telling, he said, “the night prayer.” “Mu'ādh prayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then came to lead his people in prayer. He recited Surah al-Baqarah, whereupon a man from among them withdrew and prayed on his own. He was told, ‘You have become a hypocrite.’ He replied, ‘I have not become a hypocrite.’ He then went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, Mu'ādh prays with you, then returns and leads us in prayer. We are people who draw water with camels and work with our own hands. Yet when he came to lead us, he recited Surah al-Baqarah.’ He said, ‘Are you putting people to trial, Mu'ādh? Recite such-and-such; recite such-and-such.’” Abū al-Zubayr said: “‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High’ [al-A'lā: 1], and ‘By the night when it covers’ [al-Layl: 1].”
In a narration of al-Bukhārī from Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “A man approached with two water-drawing camels after night had fallen and found Mu'ādh praying.” He then related a similar account, at the end of which he said: “Why did you not lead the prayer by reciting ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord