The intended meaning of the imam easing the prayer for the worshippers is to conform to the Sunnah, not to cater to the desires of the people.
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The Shaykh : And what is meant by easing here is: what conforms to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). This is the easing. It is not meant that easing is what conforms to the desires of the people, so that the imam rushes through his prayer without settling into the positions. What is meant by easing is what conforms to the Sunnah. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 1129, and despite that, he used to recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday the entire Surah al-Sajdah in the first rak'ah, and in the second rak'ah in its entirety. He used to recite Surah al-Dukhan in the Maghrib prayer, and he would recite al-Mursalat in it, and al-Tur in it, and perhaps al-A'raf in it. And despite this, it was light. Anas said: Mishkat al-Masabih 1129.
And this hadith is not a proof for those who want the imams to ease the prayer in a way that diminishes the reward and contradicts the Sunnah.
Then know that easing may be a temporary, incidental matter, like what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to do. He would enter the prayer intending to lengthen it, but he would hear the crying of a child and would shorten it for fear that his mother would be distracted. So if an incidental matter occurs that necessitates a person shortening his prayer, let him shorten it, but in a way that does not neglect the obligatory.
So easing is of two types:
Permanent easing: which is what conforms to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
And incidental easing, which is lighter, which is what is called for by need, and this is also from the Sunnah. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):.
And the important thing is that a person should consider the conditions of the people and show mercy to them. But if he is an imam, his showing mercy to them is to lead them as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to lead his Companions. And success is from Allah.
I never prayed behind an imam , who was more brief or more perfect in his prayer than the Prophet
ما صليتُ وراء إمام قطّ أخف صلاة ولا أتم صلاة مِن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمAlif, Lam, Meem. The revelation.
آلم تنزيلHas there come upon man
هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْأِنْسَانِI never prayed behind an imam , who was more brief or more perfect in his prayer than the Prophet
ما صليت وراء إمام قط أخف صلاة ولا أتم صلاة من النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلمAnd this hadith is not a proof for those who want the imams to ease the prayer in a way that diminishes the reward and contradicts the Sunnah.
Then know that easing may be a temporary, incidental matter, like what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to do. He would enter the prayer intending to lengthen it, but he would hear the crying of a child and would shorten it for fear that his mother would be distracted. So if an incidental matter occurs that necessitates a person shortening his prayer, let him shorten it, but in a way that does not neglect the obligatory.
So easing is of two types:
Permanent easing: which is what conforms to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
And incidental easing, which is lighter, which is what is called for by need, and this is also from the Sunnah. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
When he heard the crying of a child, he would shorten the prayer so that his mother would not be distracted
إذا سمع بكاء الصبي خفف الصلاة حتى لا تفتتن أمهAnd the important thing is that a person should consider the conditions of the people and show mercy to them. But if he is an imam, his showing mercy to them is to lead them as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to lead his Companions. And success is from Allah.