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Text and translation
English translation
1313. It was narrated from Hudhaifah that he saw a man praying, (and his bowing and prostration were) lacking. Hudhaifah said to him: "For how long have you been praying like this?" He said: "For forty years." He said: "You have not been praying for forty years and if you die praying like this, you will have died following a path other than the path of Muhammad ﷺ." Then he said: "It is possible for a man to pray briefly but still do it properly." (Sahih)
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Commentary
1. Apparently, that man might have been performing the prayer too quickly. He did not conduct himself tranquilly and calmly. In another report, offering prayer in this way has been likened to an "act of pecking (of birds)". And it has been called the prayer of a hypocrite (Sahih Muslim: 622). This is why Hudhaifah ﷺ termed his prayer null and void. When the prayer did not take place properly, his death is not the death upon Islam, because there is no true religion or Din without the prayer. Hudhaifah ﷺ might probably have used harsh words to chide him vehemently by reproof, so that he might be inspired to perfect his prayer.
2. "Light prayer" signifies brevity in the recitation (of the Qur'an). The bowing, prostrations and what occurs between them ought to be complete. That means tranquillity and calmness should be employed while performing all the pillars (Arkân) of prayer.