It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: When any of you leads the people in prayer, he should make it brief, because among them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly. However, when a person prays alone, he may prolong it as much as he wishes. In one narration, instead of "the weak," the word "the young" is used.

(Second chain) This narration is similar, except that it states: Indeed, among them are the weak, the elderly, and those in need.

Sayyiduna Uthman bin Abi al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: O Uthman! Lead your people in prayer, (but remember that) whoever leads a people in prayer should make it light, because among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs. However, when you pray alone, then pray as you wish.

(Second chain of narration) They say: The last thing that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, obligated me with was that he said to me: (During leading the prayer) make the prayer light and consider among the people the servant who is the weakest, for among them are the young, the elderly, the weak, and those in need.

(The third chain) They say: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, appointed me as the governor of Ta’if, the very last thing he instructed me was: Make things easy for the people regarding prayer, to the extent that he, peace and blessings be upon him, specified Surah Al-‘Alaq and similar surahs for me.

Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I am sometimes late for the Fajr prayer because I fear the lengthy recitation of such-and-such imam. On that day, I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) admonishing the people in a state of intense anger. He said: O people! Some of you make others averse (to prayer). Whoever among you leads the people in prayer should make it brief, for among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs.

Sayyiduna Adi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Whoever leads us in prayer should perform the bowing and prostration completely, because among us are the weak, the elderly, the sick, the traveler, and those with needs. We used to pray in this manner with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).