Sahih Muslim Book - 4, Hadith - 1050

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ حَدَّثَنِي عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي الْعَاصِ الثَّقَفِيُّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَهُ أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْئًا قَالَ ادْنُهْ فَجَلَّسَنِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ فِي صَدْرِي بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَحَوَّلْ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي ظَهْرِي بَيْنَ كَتِفَيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ فَمَنْ أَمَّ قَوْمًا فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ الْكَبِيرَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ الْمَرِيضَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ الضَّعِيفَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ.

'Uthman bin Abi Al-'As Ath-Thaqafi narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said to him: "Lead your people in prayer." He said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have some misgivings about that.' He said: 'Come closer.' So I sat before him and he placed his hand in the center of my chest, then he said: 'Tum around.' Then he placed (his hand) on my back, between my shoulder blades. Then he said: 'Lead your people in prayer. Whoever leads people in prayer, let him make it brief, for among them are the elderly, among them are the sick, and among them are those who have urgent needs. And when one of you offers prayer alone, let him pray however he wishes."'