Ismail narrates that his father (Abu Khalid) used to pray behind Abu Hurairah. Abu Hurairah’s prayer was like the prayer of Qais; he would perform the bowing and prostration properly, but he would keep the prayer brief. Abu Hurairah was asked about this: Was the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) like this? He replied,“It was like this, rather it was even briefer than this.”

Hazrat Abu Khalid says that I saw Hazrat Abu Hurairah performing a very short prayer. I asked him, "Was the prayer of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) like this?" He replied, "Yes, it used to be even shorter than this."

Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon says that when Hazrat Umar was stabbed with a spear and the people scattered, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf stepped forward and led the prayer. In this prayer, he recited two short surahs from the Holy Quran: Surah Al-Kawthar and Surah An-Nasr.

Ibrahim used to shorten the prayer, but he used to perform the bowing and prostration completely.

Hazrat Abu Majliz says that the predecessors used to perform the prayer completely, but kept it concise, and protected it from satanic whispers.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prayer of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the shortest and lightest among all people.

Hazrat Amr bin Maimoon says that I have never seen a prayer as brief as the one I saw between these two walls, that is, in the Grand Mosque of Kufa.

Hazrat Nu’man bin Qais says that when women would pass by Hazrat ‘Ubaidah and he would be praying, they would say to each other,“Lead a short prayer, for look how brief Hazrat ‘Ubaidah’s prayer is.”

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Sometimes I am in prayer and I hear the sound of a child crying, so I shorten the prayer out of fear of causing hardship to his mother.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Sometimes I am in prayer and I intend to prolong the prayer, then I hear the cry of a child, so I shorten the prayer, because I do not like to cause hardship to his mother.