his sermon are a sign of his understanding. So lengthen the prayer and shorten the sermon, for some eloquence is indeed magic.”’”

In Sahīh Muslim, Jābir ibn Samurah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“I used to offer the prayers with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his prayer was moderate.”

That is, it was of medium length. The practice he established for his community falls within the lightening of prayer prescribed for prayer leaders, for lightening is relative. The Sunnah therefore determines its proper measure.

An example is the report narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim in their two Sahīhs from Jābir, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

“Muʿādh used to pray with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then return and lead us in prayer—on one occasion he said, ‘Then return and lead his people in prayer’—and he informed the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—on one occasion he said, ‘The night prayer: Muʿādh prayed with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then came to lead his people in prayer’—and he recited al-Baqarah. A man withdrew from the congregation and prayed separately. He was told, ‘You have acted hypocritically.’

“He replied, ‘I have not acted hypocritically.’ He then went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘Muʿādh prays with you, then returns and leads us in prayer. Messenger of Allah, we are people who work with water-drawing camels and labour with our own hands. He came to lead us in prayer and recited Sūrat al-Baqarah.’

“He said, ‘Are you driving people away, Muʿādh? Recite such-and-such; recite such-and-such.’”

Abū al-Zubayr said: “‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High’ and ‘By the night as it envelops.’”

In a narration recorded by al-Bukhārī, Jābir, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“A man came with two water-drawing camels after night had fallen and found Muʿādh