the Most High,’ ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’ and ‘By the night when it covers,’ for among those praying behind you are the weak, the elderly, and those with pressing needs?’”

In the two Sahih collections, Abū Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, ‘I stay away from the dawn prayer because so-and-so keeps us praying too long.’ I never saw the Messenger of Allah become angrier while delivering an exhortation than he was that day. He said, ‘People, some of you drive others away! Whoever among you leads the people in prayer should keep it brief, for among those behind him are the elderly, the weak, and those with pressing needs.’” In one narration, it reads: “For among them are the weak and the elderly.” In another narration: “Let him lighten the prayer, for among them are the sick, the weak, and those with pressing needs.”

Sahih al-Bukhārī relates from Abū Qatāda that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I rise to perform the prayer intending to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, so I shorten it, not wishing to cause hardship to his mother.”

As for the duration of the remaining pillars in relation to the standing, al-Bukhārī and Muslim related in their two Sahih collections from Sharīk ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn Abī Namir, from Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “I never prayed behind an imam whose prayer was lighter yet more complete than that of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).”