meanings of the authentic ah?d?th- support the earlier of Im?m Ash-S?fi‘?’s views which is the sound one and contradicts the Im?m’s view in his latest Mathhab. Ibn Khuzaimah, Al-Khatt?b?, Al-Baihaqi, Al-Gazz?l? in his “Ihy?’”, Al-Bagaw? in his “At-Tahth?b” and many others held this opinion’. (1)

The great ‘?lim Ibn Hajar affirmed the non- existance of any authentic had?th that recommends that an Im?m should recite short S?rahs of the Mufassal in the Maghrib Sal?t except one had?th which is a defective one. (2)

In the ‘Ish?’ Sal?t, an Im?m is recommended to recite short Surahs the length of which is like that of S?rah Ash-Shams. (3)

[14/ 40] The eighth: A point with great importance should be raised at this stage. Some Im?ms who lead people in Qiy?mul Lail in Ramad?n exceed the proper limit when shortening their Sal?t depending on the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) had?th which states: ‘Whoever leads people in Sal?t should make it short’. (4) They even recite only one or two ?yahs in every Rak‘ah!! Indeed, this is not what is meant by the had?th.

The following examples present the manner in which the Sah?bah ( - رضي الله عنهم -) used to apply this had?th:

(a) M?lik related from Muhammad Ibn Y?suf from As-S?’ib Ibn Yaz?d to have said: ‘‘Umar Ibn Al-Khatt?b ( - رضي الله عنه -) ordered both ’Ubai Ibn Ka‘b and Tam?m Ad-D?r? to lead people in Qiy?mul Lail with eleven Rak‘ahs’. As-S?’ib then said: ‘The Im?m used to recite hundreds of ‘?yahs that we would recline on sticks when we became tired. The Im?m would end the Sal?t when dawn is a bout to break’. (5)

(b) M?lik also narrated from D?w?d Ibn Al-Husain that the later heard Al-A‘raj say: ‘I joined several Im?ms in their Sal?t in