-
Al-Bukhari cited this hadith as proof that the imam should pronounce the Amin aloud, for he linked the congregation’s Amin to that of the imam, and they can only know it if they hear him. This is also the majority view.
-
It is best for the one who supplicates to imitate the angels in every quality that makes a prayer more likely to be answered—such as humble entreaty, reverence, ritual purity, lawful clothing, drink, and food, full attentiveness of heart, and turning to Allah in every circumstance.
Hadith Six
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah — may Allah be pleased with him — that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When any one of you leads the people in prayer, let him make it brief, for among them are the weak, the sick, and those who have needs (1). But when he prays alone, let him prolong it as much as he wishes.”
Hadith Seven
Abu Masʿud al-Ansari — may Allah be pleased with him — said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and complained: “I hold back from the dawn prayer because of so-and-so; he leads us and makes it too long.” He continued, “Never did I see the Prophet ﷺ grow more angered while giving admonition than he was that day. He said: ‘O people, some of you are driving others away! Whoever among you leads the people should shorten the prayer, for behind him are the elderly, the young, and those with needs.’”
Overall Meaning
This gentle, accommodating law has come with ease, leniency, and the removal of hardship. For that reason—even in the prayer, which is the noblest of acts of worship—the Prophet ﷺ instructed the imam to keep it short so that it remains easy for the congregation and they leave it with an increased desire to return. Among those praying are people who cannot endure a lengthy prayer because of frailty, illness, or pressing needs.
If a person is praying alone, however, he may make the prayer as long as he wishes, for by doing so he harms no one.
The Prophet’s aversion to lengthening the prayer in a way that harms people or hinders them from their affairs is evident in the incident when a man informed him that he stayed away from the congregational dawn prayer because the imam leading them made it too long. The Prophet ﷺ became deeply angry and said: Some of you are turning people away from obedience to Allah, making them dislike the prayer and find it burdensome. Whoever leads the people should shorten it, for among them are those who are weak and those with pressing needs.