Narrated by Abu Hurairah
When one of you leads the people in prayer, let him make it light, for among them are the weak, the sick and the old. When he prays alone, let him make it as long as he wishes.
Sahih al-Bukhari 703, Sahih Muslim 467
What this hadith teaches
An imam considers the people behind him. Light does not mean rushed; it means not lengthening beyond what the congregation can bear.
Reference and grade
- Grade
- Sahih: agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim
- Narrator
- Abu Hurairah
- Chapter
- Congregation and rows
The hadith in Arabic نص الحديث
إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ، فَإِنَّ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْكَبِيرَ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ
Arabic text of Sahih al-Bukhari 703, as given on sunnah.com.