The imam praying sitting

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fell from a horse and his right side was injured. We came to visit him, and the time of prayer arrived. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in prayer sitting, and we also prayed sitting behind him. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he said: "The imam is appointed only to be followed. When he says the takbir, you say the takbir too; when he bows, you bow too; when he says 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears the one who praises Him), you say 'Rabbana wa laka al-hamd' (Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise). When he prays sitting, then all of you pray sitting."

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became somewhat ill, and some of his Companions came to visit him. In the meantime the time of prayer arrived, so he led them in prayer sitting. They began to pray standing, so he (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to them to pray sitting, and they sat down. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he said: "The imam is appointed only to be followed. When he bows, you bow too; when he raises his head from bowing, you raise your heads from bowing too; and when he prays sitting, you also pray 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."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The imam is appointed only so that you follow him. When he says the takbir, you say the takbir too; when he recites, you remain silent; when he says 'Ghayri al-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la al-dallin' (not of those who have earned anger, nor of those who go astray), you say Amin. When he bows, you bow; when he says 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears the one who praises Him), you say 'Allahumma Rabbana laka al-hamd' (O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all praise). When he prostrates, you prostrate, and when he prays sitting, you also pray sitting."

Abu al-Zubayr said: Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) once fell ill in Makkah. When his condition improved somewhat, he set out, and people set out with him. When they reached a stage of the road, the time of prayer arrived. Sayyiduna Jabir led the people in prayer sitting, and the people also prayed sitting behind him.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The imam is a leader (amir). If he prays standing, you pray standing; and if he prays sitting, you also pray sitting.

Sayyiduna Qays bin Qahd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Our imam once fell ill and prayed sitting for some days, and we prayed following his prayer. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The imam is a leader (amir). If he prays standing, you also pray standing, and if he prays sitting, you also pray sitting.

Abdullah bin Hubayrah said: Sayyiduna Usayd bin Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to lead his people, Banu Abd al-Ashhal, in prayer. He once fell ill, and when he came out to them after his illness, the people said to him: "Step forward and lead the prayer." He said: "I do not have the strength to lead the prayer." The people said: "As long as you are among us, no one other than you will lead us in prayer." Sayyiduna Usayd said to them: "Then all of you sit down," and he led them in prayer sitting.

Al-Qasim bin Muhammad said: Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the imam prays sitting, you also pray sitting." The people marvelled at the truthfulness of Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah.

Sayyiduna Qays bin Qahd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: One of our imams fell ill, so we prayed behind him sitting.