Nafi’ bin Sarjas says: We visited Sayyiduna Abu Waqid Bakri or Badri or Kindi (may Allah be pleased with him) during his final illness. He said that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most considerate in lightening the prayer for the people, but he would make his own solitary prayer the longest.

Sayyiduna Malik bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I participated in a battle with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I have not prayed behind any imam who shortened the prayer more than him, while his bowing and prostration were also complete.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to command us to shorten the prayer, and he himself would lead us in prayer by reciting Surah As-Saffat.

Abu Khalid says: I saw Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) lead the prayer and he made it quite brief. I said to him: Was the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also like this? He said: Yes, rather it used to be even shorter than this.

(Second chain of narration) His father says: I said to Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him: Did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, use to lead you in prayer like this? He asked: What have you found objectionable in my prayer? I said: I want to ask you about this (shortening). He said: Yes, and it used to be even shorter than this. (Consider that) the duration of the standing (qiyam) of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was as long as it would take the muezzin to descend from the minaret and join the row.

(The third chain) His father Abu Khalid says: Indeed, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to lead them in prayer in Madinah in the same manner as Qais used to pray, while Qais did not prolong the prayer. So I asked: Did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) pray like this? Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Yes, rather, his prayer used to be even shorter than this.

Someone said to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him: "Our imam leads a long prayer." He replied: "The two rak'ahs of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, were equal to one rak'ah of this imam, or even lighter than that."

Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: We were praying with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when suddenly he left while we were in the standing position. When he returned, drops of water were dripping from his head. Then he led us in prayer and (after finishing) said: When I stood for prayer, I remembered that I was in a state of janabah and had not performed ghusl. (In the future, remember that) if any of you feels a sound in his stomach or experiences what happened to me, then he should leave, and after fulfilling his need or performing ghusl, he should return to his prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) began the prayer, said Allahu Akbar, but suddenly gestured to the worshippers to remain in their places. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the house. When he came out, drops of water were dripping from his head. Then he led them in prayer, and after finishing the prayer, he said: "Indeed, I am only a human being; in fact, I was in a state of impurity (junub)."

(Second chain) Indeed, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) entered during the Fajr prayer and then narrated the entire aforementioned hadith.