What is the point of Anas's statement, "I have not prayed behind an imam whose prayer was lighter or more complete than that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)," given that those who described the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicated that he would lengthen it, such as in the Fajr and Zuhr prayers?
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The questioner : The Shaykh, may Allah reward you. I did not understand the point of their statement, meaning the lightening of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer, given that everyone who describes it mentions that he would lengthen it in Zuhr and Fajr. The point of Anas ibn Malik's statement is: Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:425 Even though he ... he says: ... .
The Shaykh : It is ... except that there may be one who is longer than him, is that not so? And the Shaykh al-Islam pointed to this, saying: It is not like the prayer of these people; some of them lengthen it greatly and some of them shorten it. Therefore, Anas combined between them, saying: So "lighter" is the opposite of which group?
The student: Those who lengthen it.
The Shaykh : And "more complete"?
The student: Those who shorten it.
The Shaykh : Those who shorten it. And the Ummah, as you know, there is now disagreement among people regarding these matters. When there was, praise be to Allah, vigilance, you would find some people, when they lead, would lengthen it greatly and tire the people. Did you not see that some people in the Qunut of Witr in Ramadan would remain for an hour and a quarter, 45 minutes? Who can endure this? It is their independent legal reasoning and their assumption that people want this, so they lengthen it. Yes.
I have not prayed behind an imam whose prayer was lighter or more complete than that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
ما صليت وراء إمامٍ أخف صلاة ولا أتم من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلمThe Shaykh : It is ... except that there may be one who is longer than him, is that not so? And the Shaykh al-Islam pointed to this, saying: It is not like the prayer of these people; some of them lengthen it greatly and some of them shorten it. Therefore, Anas combined between them, saying:
Lighter or more complete
أخف ولا أتمThe student: Those who lengthen it.
The Shaykh : And "more complete"?
The student: Those who shorten it.
The Shaykh : Those who shorten it. And the Ummah, as you know, there is now disagreement among people regarding these matters. When there was, praise be to Allah, vigilance, you would find some people, when they lead, would lengthen it greatly and tire the people. Did you not see that some people in the Qunut of Witr in Ramadan would remain for an hour and a quarter, 45 minutes? Who can endure this? It is their independent legal reasoning and their assumption that people want this, so they lengthen it. Yes.