Ibn Mājah likewise transmitted it (1) from Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah, through Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUlayyah, from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, in the wording cited above.

Aḥmad also relates (2)–through ʿAffān from Wahb, and through Muʿāwiyah ibn ʿAmr from Zāʾidah, both from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUthmān ibn Khuthaym, from Dāwūd ibn Abī ʿĀṣim–from ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ that the last words the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke to him when appointing him over al-Ṭāʾif were:

“When you lead people in prayer, make it easy for them,”

and he specified for me:

“Recite: ‘Read in the name of your Lord who created’ (Q 96:1) and other similar short passages of the Qur’an.”

Aḥmad further states (3): Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar related to us; Shuʿbah related to us, from ʿAmr ibn Murrah, who said: I heard Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib say: ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ narrated that the final instruction the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave him was:

“When you lead a congregation, lighten the prayer for them.”

Muslim (4) also recorded it through Muḥammad ibn al-Muthannā and Bundār, both from Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar (Ghundar) with this chain.

Aḥmad says (5): Abū Aḥmad al-Zubayrī reported to us; ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Yaʿlā al-Ṭāʾifī reported to us, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥakam, who said he heard ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ say: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ appointed me over al-Ṭāʾif, and the last thing he entrusted to me was: ‘Lighten the prayer for the people.’” This wording is unique to this chain.

Aḥmad adds (6): Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd told us; ʿAmr ibn ʿUthmān informed us; Mūsā—meaning Ibn Ṭalḥah—narrated to me that ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded him to lead his people in prayer, then said:

“Whoever leads a people should make the prayer light for them, for among them are the weak, the elderly, the sick, and those with pressing needs. When he prays alone, he may pray as he wishes.”

Muslim (7) reported this through ʿAmr ibn ʿUthmān with the same wording.

Aḥmad further relates (8): Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar (9) narrated to us; Shuʿbah narrated to us, from al-Nuʿmān ibn Sālim, who said: I heard elders of Thaqīf say that ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ told them: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me:

“Lead your people in prayer, and whenever you lead a congregation, lighten the prayer for them; for standing therein are the young and the old, the weak and the sick, and those with pressing needs.”