Hadith: Indeed, a servant may pray a prayer, but nothing of it is recorded for him except a tenth of it, or a ninth, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or a quarter, or a third, or a half

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَنَمَةَ، قَالَ:
رَأَيْتُ عَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ دَخَلَ المَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى، ‌فَأَخَفَّ ‌الصَّلَاةَ، قَالَ: فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ، قُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَبَا اليَقْظَانِ، لَقَدْ خَفَّفْتَ، قَالَ: فَهَلْ رَأَيْتَنِي انْتَقَصْتُ مِنْ حُدُودِهَا شَيْئًا؟! قُلْتُ: لَا، قَالَ: فَإِنِّي بَادَرْتُ بِهَا سَهْوَةَ الشَّيْطَانِ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: « إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُصَلِّي الصَّلَاةَ، مَا يُكْتَبُ لَهُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا عُشْرُهَا، تُسْعُهَا، ثُمُنُهَا، سُبُعُهَا، سُدُسُهَا، خُمُسُهَا، رُبُعُهَا، ثُلُثُهَا نِصْفُهَا».
[حسن] - [رواه أحمد] - [مسند أحمد: 18894]

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Anamah reported:
I saw ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir enter the mosque and perform the prayer, and he performed it briefly. When he came out, I went to him and said: O Abu al-Yaqzhān, you performed the prayer briefly. He replied: Did you see me leave out any of its required parts or limits? I said: No. He said: Verily, I hastened in it to ward off the distraction of the devil. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "Indeed, a servant may pray a prayer, but nothing of it is recorded for him except a tenth of it, or a ninth, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or a quarter, or a third, or a half."
[Good hadith] - [Narrated by Ahmad] - [Musnad Ahmad - 18894]

Explanation

‘Ammār ibn Yāsir (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) entered the mosque and performed a voluntary prayer, which was brief. When he left the mosque, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Anamah followed him and said: O Abu al-Yaqzhān, I noticed that you prayed very briefly! ‘Ammār said: Did you see me omit any of its pillars, obligations, or conditions? He replied: No. ‘Ammār said: Verily, I only prayed it briefly before the devil could distract me. I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: A servant may perform a prayer, yet only a tenth of its reward is written for him, or a ninth, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or a quarter, or a third, or a half.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. Keenness of the early generations to advise and counsel one another.
2. Verification and asking for clarification before objecting or criticizing.
3. Sufficing with the words of the Prophet (ﷺ) as the final and complete answer to any question or doubt.
4. The reward of prayer decreases in proportion to the lack of humility and contemplation within it.
5. Strong encouragement and earnest urging to maintain humility and to have one’s heart fully present with Allah Almighty during prayer.