Some of those who do so depend on the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had?th: ‘O people! Some of you indeed drive people away [from their religion]. Whoever leads people in Sal?t should make it short for some of those behind him may be of the old, the weak or in dire need’. (1) They might also depend on ’Anas’ ( - رضي الله عنه -) statement which says: ‘I have never done a Sal?t shorter yet more complete and perfect than that I did with the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) ’. (2)

[12/ 40] The prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) Sal?t being very short does not entail what those stealers from their Sal?t and those who do it quickly understood. The prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) Sal?t was indeed as ’Anas ( - رضي الله عنه -) described in other narrations of being complete; his ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) rising from Ruk?‘ and Suj?d was so long to an extent that the Sah?bah thought he ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had forgotten in his Sal?t. (3)

’Anas ( - رضي الله عنه -) also described ‘Umar’s Ibn Abdil ‘Az?z Sal?t of being similar to that of the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) , the former used to recite nearly ten Tasb?h [in every Ruk?‘and Suj?d]. (4) The shortening ’Anas ( - رضي الله عنه -) described means to shorten one’s standing and prolong one’s Ruk?‘ and Suj?d, not vice versa as some late rulers did and which the sah?bah condemned. (5)

It is of Sunnah to make one’s Sal?t short at times of need such as: hearing a baby crying or at times of travel or fear. The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘I start my Sal?t with the intention to make it long but when I hear a baby crying I make it short’. (6) He ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) once recited Surah At-T?n in the ‘Ish?’ Sal?t, and the two Mu‘awwithatain in the dawn Sal?t while on a journey. (7)