people whose prayers were the most concise, yet complete.”

Thus, Anas’s statement (may Allah be pleased with him), “I never prayed behind any imam whose prayer was more concise yet more complete than that of the Messenger of Allah,” means that he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed more concisely and more completely than any other imam. This was because his prayer was balanced and its parts proportionate, as stated in another wording: “His prayer was well balanced,” and in another: “The parts of his prayer were of comparable length.” He kept its standing and sitting portions brief, while making it the most complete prayer by lengthening its bowing and prostration. Had he meant that one and the same act—such as standing—was itself both briefer and more complete, that would have been contradictory. This is why Anas explained that the shortening he practiced when a child cried consisted of reciting a short surah. He also explained that Umar ibn al-Khattāb prolonged the dawn prayer, meaning that he prolonged only its recitation. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would recite Surah Jonah, Surah Hud, and Surah Joseph in the dawn prayer.

This is further demonstrated by what Abū Dāwūd narrated in his Sunan from Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “I never prayed behind anyone who performed the prayer more concisely than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), while still performing it completely. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ he would remain standing until we would say, ‘He has forgotten.’ He would then pronounce the takbīr and prostrate. He would also remain seated between the two prostrations until we would say, ‘He has forgotten.’”

Likewise, al-Bukhārī and Muslim related in their two Sahih collections, through Hammād ibn Zayd, from Thābit, from Anas, who said: “I spare no effort to lead you in prayer as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to lead us.” Thābit said: “Anas used to do something that I do not see you doing. When he raised his head from bowing, he would stand fully upright until someone would say, ‘He has forgotten.’” Al-Bukhārī also narrated through Shubah, from Thābit, who said: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said