Is the priority in wearing clothes for prayer given to new, trailing garments or to short, non-trailing ones, and what is the meaning of the saying, "Religion is ease, not hardship"?

The questioner should shorten his garments so they do not extend below the ankles, based on the hadith: "Whatever is below the ankles of the izar (garment) is in the Fire." It is not a condition for prayer attire to be new; rather, what is important is that it be pure and cover the 'awrah. One should choose the best garments as a sign of reverence for prayer. Praying in short clothes is more preferable than praying in new, long clothes that extend below the ankles, because exceeding the ankles is forbidden, even if the prayer is valid according to the most preponderant opinion.