and it ennobles a person; for when a man’s heart softens, he shows mercy to every creature that possesses a soul, and when he shows mercy to every such creature, Allah shows mercy to him. Someone asked, “Messenger of Allah, do we earn a reward for (kindness toward) the animals?” He replied, “Yes—there is a reward in every creature with a moist liver.”

Among the manifestations of compassion for the believers is that, if a man is their imam, he should not make the prayer unduly long for them. For that reason the Prophet ﷺ said, “When any of you leads the people in prayer, let him keep it light, for behind him are the sick, the weak, those who have needs, and the elderly.” In other words, behind him are people with valid excuses who require the prayer to be shortened. What is meant by “keeping it light” is whatever conforms to the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ; that—and that alone—is true brevity. It is not a license to follow people’s whims until the imam races through the prayer without composure.

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I never prayed behind any imam whose prayer was lighter yet more complete than that of the Prophet ﷺ. Yet on the Friday dawn prayer he would recite ‘Alif Lam Mim, the Revelation of the Book’ (Surat al-Sajdah) in full in the first rakʿah, and ‘Has there come upon man…’ (Surat al-Insan 1) in full in the second. At Maghrib he would recite Surat al-Dukhan, and at other times al-Mursalat, al-Tur, or even al-Aʿraf—and still his prayer was light.” Anas reiterated, “I never prayed behind any imam lighter, nor more perfect in his prayer, than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”