I never prayed behind an imam, who was more brief or more perfect in his prayer than the Prophet. If he heard a boy crying he would shorten the prayer for fear his mother might be distressed.
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are three whose prayer is not raised a span above their heads:
a man who acts as imam for people when they do not like him, a woman with whom her husband is displeased throughout the night, and two brothers* who are disunited.”
* The word here is most probably used in the widest sense, meaning two Muslims.
Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When I begin the prayer. I intend to make it long, but I hear a boy crying and shorten my prayer, being aware of his mother’s emotion because of his crying.”
When the first Emigrants came to Medina, Salim the client of Abu Hudhaifa acted as their imam, and ‘Umar and Abu Salama b. ‘Abd al-Asad were among their number.
