The imam standing higher than those behind him

Hammam said: Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) began leading the prayer on a raised platform while the rest of the people stood below. Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) pulled him down. When he finished the prayer, Sayyiduna Salman said: Do you not know that your companions used to dislike that the imam should stand on something above while the people are below? Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: That is quite right; when you pulled me, I remembered it.

Ibrahim said: Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) wished to lead the prayer at al-Mada'in standing on a raised platform, higher than those praying behind him. Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) pulled him and said: Do you not know that doing this is disliked? He said: When you reminded me, I remembered!

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked that the imam should stand higher than those praying behind him.

Al-Qasim said: There was a raised platform (shadhurwan) at the palace on which the imam used to stand and lead the prayer. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked it and ordered it to be broken, and it was broken.

Ibrahim used to dislike that the imam's place should be higher than the people's place. He also disliked that a man should raise something up at his place of prayer and prostrate on it.

Bilal al-Absi said: Sayyiduna Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man praying on a raised spot, so he took him by the back of the neck, brought him down, and said: Pray here.

Uthman bin Abi Hind said: I saw Umar bin Abd al-Aziz leading the prayer on top of a church in Syria while the people were below him.

Al-Hasan saw no harm in the imam leading the prayer standing in a place higher than those praying behind him.