Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Rabi’ bin Nazlah narrates that we set out on a journey with twelve or thirteen men; except for me, all the others were companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When the time for prayer came, they all began to urge one another to lead the prayer. Among them, a young man stepped forward and led four rak‘ahs. When the prayer was finished, Hazrat Salman said, “Why did we pray four rak‘ahs? For us, half of four—two rak‘ahs—are sufficient. We are more in need of concession.” Upon this, everyone said, “O Abu Abdullah! You should lead the prayer.” He replied, “You, the descendants of Ismail, are the imams, and we are the ministers.”