The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in the noon prayer:" By the night when it envelopes" (xcii.), and in the afternoon like this, but he prolonged the morning prayer as compared to that (noon and afternoon prayers).
Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith heard him reciting:" By those sent forth to spread goodness" (lxxvii.). (Upon this) she remarked: O my son, you reminded me by the recitation of this surah (the fact) that it was the last surah that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he recited it in the evening prayer.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 931
Hadith 464
Chapter 4: The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة
'Adi reported:
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ فَقَرَأَ فِي إِحْدَى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ { وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ}
I heard al-Bara' narrating it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that while in a journey he said the night prayer and recited in one of the two rak'ahs:" By the Fig and the Olive" (Su'rah xcv.).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 933
Hadith 465
Chapter 4: The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة
Jabir reported that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray with the Apostle (ﷺ), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him:
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَأْتِي فَيَؤُمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَصَلَّى لَيْلَةً مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَانْحَرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ وَلآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلأُخْبِرَنَّهُ . فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَإِنَّ مُعَاذًا صَلَّى مَعَكَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ . فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ " يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا " . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَقُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو إِنَّ أَبَا الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " اقْرَأْ وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا . وَالضُّحَى . وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى . وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى " . فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو نَحْوَ هَذَا .
Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah). It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Holy Prophet) had said: "By the sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci), "By brightness" (Surah xciii), "By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii), and "Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 936
Hadith 466
Chapter 4: The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة
Abu Mas'ud al-Ainsari reported:
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي لأَتَأَخَّرُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ مِنْ أَجْلِ فُلاَنٍ مِمَّا يُطِيلُ بِنَا . فَمَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَضِبَ فِي مَوْعِظَةٍ قَطُّ أَشَدَّ مِمَّا غَضِبَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَالَ
" يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ فَأَيُّكُمْ أَمَّ النَّاسَ فَلْيُوجِزْ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ الْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ " .
A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long. I never saw God's Messenger (ﷺ) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people, some of you are scaring people away. So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief, for behind him are the weak, the aged, and the people who have (argent) business to attend.
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 948
Hadith 470
Chapter 4: The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة
Anas reported:
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ مَعَ أُمِّهِ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَقْرَأُ بِالسُّورَةِ الْخَفِيفَةِ أَوْ بِالسُّورَةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.
I noticed the prayer of Muhammad (ﷺ) and saw his Qiyam (standing), his bowing, and then going back to the standing posture after bowing, his prostration, his sitting between the two prostrations, and his prostration and sitting between salutation and going away, all these were nearly equal to one another.
While leading you in prayer I do not shorten anything in the prayer. I pray as I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leading us. He (Thabit) said: Anas used to do that which I do not see you doing; when he lifted his head from bowing he stood up (so long) that one would say: He has forgotten (to baw down in prostration). And when he lifted his head from prostration, he stayed in that position, till someone would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration for the second sajda).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 956
Hadith 473
Chapter 38: Moderation In All Pillars Of The Prayer, And Making It Brief Yet Complete - كتاب الصلاة
Thabit reported it on the authority of Anas:
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ مَا صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ أَحَدٍ أَوْجَزَ صَلاَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي تَمَامٍ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُتَقَارِبَةً وَكَانَتْ صَلاَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ مُتَقَارِبَةً فَلَمَّا كَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ مَدَّ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَالَ
" سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ " . قَامَ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَوْهَمَ . ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ وَيَقْعُدُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَوْهَمَ .
I have never said such a light and perfect prayer as I said behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The prayer of the Messenger. of Allah (ﷺ) was well balanced. And so too was the prayer of Abu Bakr well balanced. When it was the time of 'Umar b. al-Khattab he prolonged the morning prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah listened to him who praised Him, he stood erect till we said: He has forgotten. He then prostrated and sat between two prostration till we said: He has forgotten.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 957
Hadith 474
Chapter 4: The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة
Al-Bara' (b. 'Azib), and he was no liar (but a truthful Companion of the Holy Prophet), reported:
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْبَرَاءُ، وَهُوَ غَيْرُ كَذُوبٍ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ لَمْ أَرَ أَحَدًا يَحْنِي ظَهْرَهُ حَتَّى يَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَبْهَتَهُ عَلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يَخِرُّ مَنْ وَرَاءَهُ سُجَّدًا .
They used to say prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I never saw anyone bending his back at the time when he (the Holy Prophet) raised his head, till the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) placed his forehead on the ground. They then fell in prostration after him.
I said the dawn prayer behind the Apostle of (ﷺ) and heard him reciting: 'Nay. I call to witness the stars, running their courses and setting" (al-Qur'an, lxxxi. 15-16) and Done of us bent his back till he completed prostration.
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his back from the rukd' he pronounced: Allah listened to him who praised Him. O Allah! our Lord! unto Thee be praise that would fill the heavens and the earth and fill that which will please Thee besides them.
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his head after bowing, he said: O Allah! our Lord, to Thee be the praise that would fill all the heavens and the earth, and all that it pleases Thee besides (them). O, thou art worthy of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant says, and we all are Thy servants, no one can withhold what Thou givest or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against Thee.
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his head after bowing, he said: Allah! our Lord, to Thee be the praise that would fill the heavens and the earth and that which is between them, and that which will please Thee besides (them). Worthy art Thou of all praise and glory. No one can withhold what Thou givest, or give what Thou withholdest. And the greatness O! the great availeth not against Thee.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) drew aside the curtain (of his apartment) and (he saw) people in rows (saying prayer) behind Aba Bakr. And he said: Nothing remains of the glad tidings of apostlehood, except good visions which a Muslim sees or someone is made to see for him. And see that I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an in the state of bowing and prostration. So far as Ruk'u is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.