Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Zuhri that I heard Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) say that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) fell from a horse and his right side was injured. We went to check on him, and during this time the time for prayer came. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) led us in prayer while sitting, and we also prayed sitting in his following. So when the prayer was completed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: The Imam is appointed so that he may be followed. So when the Imam says the takbeer, you should say the takbeer. And when he bows (in ruku‘), you should bow. And when the Imam prostrates, you should prostrate. And when the Imam raises his head, you should raise your heads. And when the Imam says "Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah," you should say "Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal hamd." And if the Imam prays sitting, then you all pray sitting.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill, some of the companions came to visit him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed sitting, while those people prayed standing behind him in his congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to them to sit down, so they sat. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, he said: "The Imam is appointed so that he may be followed. So when he bows, you bow; and when he raises his head, you raise your head; and when he prays sitting, you pray sitting."

Hazrat Jabir narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, fell from his horse and landed on the trunk of a date-palm, and his blessed foot became swollen. The narrator says: We went to visit the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to inquire about his health, and found him sitting and praying in the upper room of Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her. We prayed behind him while standing. Then, on another occasion, we visited him again and found him praying while sitting. We began to pray behind him while standing, but he gestured to us to sit down. When he finished the prayer, he said: The Imam is appointed to be followed. So, when he prays standing, pray standing like him, and when he prays sitting, pray sitting like him. Do not stand when the Imam is sitting, as the people of Persia do with their elders.

Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The imam is appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbeer, you say the takbeer, and when the imam recites, you remain silent, and when the imam says { غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَیْہِمْ ، وَلاَ الضَّالِّینَ }, you should say Ameen. And when the imam bows (for ruku), you bow, and when the imam says "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah," you say, "Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal hamd." And when the imam prostrates, you prostrate. And when the imam prays sitting, you pray sitting. And it has been mentioned from (Imam) Abu Hanifa that: if the imam is sitting, following him (by sitting) is not correct.