Muaz used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ, then return to his people and lead them in prayer. One night he delayed the prayer, prayed with the Prophet ﷺ, then returned to his people to lead them, and he began reciting Surah al-Baqarah. When one of the men heard this, he stepped back, prayed on his own, and then left.The people said to him, "Have you become a hypocrite, so-and-so?"He replied, "By Allah, I have not become a hypocrite. I will go to the Prophet ﷺ and tell him."So he came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Messenger of Allah, Muaz prays with you, then comes to us and leads us in prayer. Last night you delayed the prayer, and he prayed with you, then came back and led us, beginning with Surah al-Baqarah. When I heard that, I stepped back and prayed on my own. We are people who work with camels drawing water and labor with our hands."The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Muaz, are you putting people to trial? Recite such-and-such surah and such-and-such surah."
أخبرنا محمد بن منصور قال حدثنا سفيان عن عمرو قال سمعت
كان معاذ يصلي مع النبي ﷺ ثم يرجع إلى قومه يؤمهم فأخر ذات ليلة الصلاة وصلى مع النبي ﷺ ثم رجع إلى قومه يؤمهم فقرأ سورة البقرة فلما سمع رجل من القوم تأخر فصلى ثم خرج فقالوا نافقت يا فلان فقال والله ما نافقت ولآتين النبي ﷺ فأخبره فأتى النبي ﷺ فقال يا رسول الله إن معاذا يصلي معك ثم يأتينا فيؤمنا وإنك أخرت الصلاة البارحة فصلى معك ثم رجع فأمنا فاستفتح بسورة البقرة فلما سمعت ذلك تأخرت فصليت وإنما نحن أصحاب نواضح نعمل بأيدينا فقال له النبي ﷺ يا معاذ أفتان أنت اقرأ بسورة كذا وسورة كذا