The ruling on the imam prolonging the recitation in congregational prayer

Question:
If the imam intends to pray Maghrib with the A'raf, is it permissible for him to inform the congregation and make an official announcement in writing that he will pray Maghrib with the A'raf in this mosque?

Answer:
The most apparent view is that he should not recite it and should not announce it. He should not recite it because it is a voluntary prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it only once and encouraged not to prolong the prayer. People today cannot bear it. I see that it should not be recited at this present time because people cannot bear this length. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not usually prolong the prayer for them; rather, he encouraged making it easy. You have heard what he said to Mu'adh. It is not recorded that he performed it except once, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) did so for specific reasons. The conditions of people must be taken into account, including their weakness in faith and their inability to bear it.
Q: ......: "He used to order us to make it easy and lead us in prayer with [Surah] As-Saffat"?
A: The prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was making it easy; this is the principle. He taught us to make it easy (peace and blessings be upon him). Following his example is making it easy. However, if the imam takes into account the condition of the people, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to do, he should take the people into account... he should take the condition of the people into account and not cause them fitnah; that is more appropriate.