Is walking quickly a recommended practice? And is it true that some scholars have mentioned that walking slowly is a religious innovation?

The questioner : May Allah preserve you, esteemed Shaykh. Is walking quickly a recommended practice, and is leaving it off a dropping of a recommended practice? Especially since some scholars have classified walking slowly as a religious innovation. I ask for clarification, and may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Without a doubt, we return to what we mentioned at the end of the previous answer, *Khayr al-Huda*. Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) actually walked quickly, and his Companions could hardly keep up with him, and they would strain themselves while he was not... [straining] at all. But this is one thing, and running and hurrying are another; that is something a Muslim should not do, especially when he goes out to the mosque. Many people hurry, meaning they run, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, in what was narrated by the two Shaykhs in their *Sahih*s from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Meaning, are you running as some people do? Especially when one enters the mosque and finds the imam bowing or in the act of bowing, he runs, and a commotion or noise is heard in the mosque from the speed of his walking or running. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: On this occasion, let no one be confused by the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibition of hurrying to prayer, which we said is running and unnatural walking. This hadith does not conflict with the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: The meaning of *sa'y* (hurrying) here is not the same *sa'y* mentioned in the hadith. That is, the *sa'y* mentioned in the hadith, which is prohibited, is different from the *sa'y* mentioned in the verse, which is commanded. Each of the two terms *sa'y* in the verse and the hadith has a meaning that fits the context and the preceding text. When he (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) said in the hadith: the first phrase explains the prohibited *sa'y* in the phrase that follows it. As for the commanded *sa'y* in the verse, it is an allusion to the eagerness to set out for the Friday prayer. Therefore, *sa'y* here should be interpreted in a way that does not contradict the *sa'y* mentioned in the previous hadith, i.e., meaning, set out earnestly and determined to go to the mosque, but without running. Rather, you must have calmness and composure. This allows for the reconciliation of the verse and the hadith. In short, the meaning of *sa'y* in the verse is different from the meaning of *sa'y* in the hadith. The *sa'y* in the verse is the eagerness and setting out to the mosque, but how one walks is as stated in the hadith: When you come to the prayer, come to it with calmness and composure.
Yes.