Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 7325 — The imam praying sitting

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fell from a horse and struck the trunk of a date palm, which injured his foot. We came to visit him while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying in a room of Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). We began praying behind him standing. Then we came to visit him a second time while he was praying sitting. We began following him standing, so he gestured to us to sit. When he completed the prayer, he said: "The imam is appointed only to be followed. When he prays standing, you pray standing too, and when he prays sitting, you pray sitting too. Do not stand while he is sitting, as the people of Persia do for those they revere."