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.'"'"  

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 ﷺ مَشَى بِي هَذِهِ الْمِشْيَةَ وَقَالَ أَتَدْرِي لِمَ مَشَيْتُ بِكَ؟ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ لِيَكْثُرَ عَدَدُ خُطَانَا فِي طَلَبِ الصَّلاةِ