That ḥadīth, then, is no proof for those who wish the imams to shorten the prayer to the point that the reward is diminished and the sunnah violated. Understand, moreover, that at times shortening is prompted by an unforeseen circumstance, just as the Prophet ﷺ himself would do: he might enter the prayer intending to prolong it, then hear a child crying and bring the prayer to a close quickly, fearing that the child’s mother would be distracted. Whenever some urgent matter requires a person to lighten his prayer, let him do so—but never in a way that compromises what is obligatory.

There are, therefore, two kinds of shortening:

1. A constant, regular shortening—that is, whatever accords with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
2. A temporary, exceptional shortening that is even briefer, prompted by need. This too belongs to the Sunnah, for the Prophet ﷺ, when he heard a child crying, would shorten the prayer so that the child’s mother would not become distressed. The essential point is that one should consider people’s conditions and show them mercy.

229 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sometimes leave off a deed that he loved to practice, for fear that the people would adopt it and it would then be made obligatory for them.” Agreed upon.