Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 7348 — Those who said: follow the imam

Ali bin Mudrik said: When Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Yemen, he was teaching the people of al-Nakha', and he said to them: "When you see me do something in the prayer, do the same." When he prostrated, a branch of a tree hurt his eyes, so he broke it in the prayer. Then every man among them went to a branch while in the prayer and broke it. When Sayyiduna Mu'adh completed the prayer, he said: "I broke the branch only because it hurt my eye when I went into prostration. But you have done well in the obedience you showed."