Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book 25, Hadith 458 (English) ⓘ

Thabit reported that he was with Anas in a corner above one of his rooms. He said, "We heard the adhan and he came down and I came down as well. He took short stops and said, 'I was with Zayd ibn Thabit and I walked with him in this fashion. He said, "Do you know why I did it to you? The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, walked in this manner and he said, 'Do you know why I walked with you?' I replied, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'So that there would be a greater number of steps in search of the prayer.'"'"

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ نِبْرَاسٍ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ أَنَسٍ بِالزَّاوِيَةِ فَوْقَ غُرْفَةٍ لَهُ، فَسَمِعَ الأَذَانَ، فَنَزَلَ وَنَزَلْتُ، فَقَارَبَ فِي الْخُطَا فَقَالَ‏:‏ كُنْتُ مَعَ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ فَمَشَى بِي هَذِهِ الْمِشْيَةَ وَقَالَ‏:‏ أَتَدْرِي لِمَ فَعَلْتُ بِكَ‏؟‏ فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَشَى بِي هَذِهِ الْمِشْيَةَ وَقَالَ‏:‏ أَتَدْرِي لِمَ مَشَيْتُ بِكَ‏؟‏ قُلْتُ‏:‏ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ‏:‏ لِيَكْثُرَ عَدَدُ خُطَانَا فِي طَلَبِ الصَّلاةِ‏.‏