Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Abu Hazim: Some people came to Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) and began to argue about the pulpit—what kind of wood it was made from. He said: I know what kind of wood it was made from and who made it. And I saw when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it for the first time. (Abu Hazim says:) I said: O Abu Abbas! Tell us all about this. He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent word to a woman (Abu Hazim said that Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned the name of this woman that day) that she should allow her slave, who was a carpenter, some time to make a few pieces of wood for me, that is, a pulpit on which I may speak to the people (that is, give sermons and advice). So her slave made a pulpit with three steps, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that it be placed in the mosque at that spot. Its wood was from the tamarisk of Ghabah (Ghabah is a place on the heights of Madinah), and I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stand on it and say the takbir. The people also said the takbir behind him while he was on the pulpit. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head from bowing and stepped down backwards until he prostrated at the base of the pulpit. Then he returned to the pulpit until he finished the prayer. After that, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned to the people and said: O people! I did this so that you may follow me and learn to pray as I pray.