Nasai

786. Commentary: A person of virtue or a leader may perform prayer behind any ordinary member of the public; there is no legal or ethical objection to this. During the expedition of Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) fell behind the army while traveling. When he reached his people, he found that ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (radi Allahu anhu) was leading them in prayer. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed prayer behind him in congregation. See: [صحیح مسلم الطھارة حدیث : 274]

There is a difference of opinion regarding this prayer of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): was he the imam or a follower (muqtadi) in it? Also, did this incident occur once or twice? Some have said that it happened twice: once the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the imam, and once he was a follower. If this is the case, then the reasoning of the imam from these ahadith is clear. Some have said that this incident occurred only once; in that case, was the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) the imam or the follower? The narrations differ on this matter. The apparent meaning of some narrations suggests that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was a follower, as is found in the wording of Sunan an-Nasa’i, hadith 786 and 787. However, the more correct view seems to be that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the imam, because in al-Bukhari and Muslim it is mentioned that he sat to the left of Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), and it is clear that the imam is on the left side. Also, the wording of this narration is: «یقتدی أبوبکر بصلاة رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم» Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) was following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). [صحیح البخاري : الأذان حدیث : 713 و صحیح مسلم الصلاۃ حدیث : 418]

Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, Imam Nawawi, and the author of Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi rahimahullah also incline toward this view. In this case, the reasoning of Imam an-Nasa’i rahimahullah from these ahadith is questionable. In any case, there is a difference of opinion on this matter. There are scholars on both sides. It is difficult to declare one opinion as definitive. And Allah knows best.