Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.

Hammam bin Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Hurairah (RA) transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) , and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.

Hammam bin Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Hurairah (RA) transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) , and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.

'Uthman bin Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported: The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.

Uthman bin Abu'l-'As reported: The last thing which the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer, be brief.

Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) used to be brief and perfect in prayer.

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) was among those whose prayers was brief and perfect.

Anas reported: I never prayed behind an Imam who was more brief and more perfect in prayer than the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) .

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.

Anas bin Malik (RA) reported the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) having said: When I begin the prayer I intend to make it long, but I hear a boy crying; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.