Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fell from a horse. He fell onto the trunk of a date-palm, due to which his foot was injured. We came to visit him to inquire about his health. At that time, he was performing prayer while sitting in the upper room of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). We began to follow his prayer; we were standing. Then, when we came to him again, he was performing prayer while sitting. We followed his prayer and we were standing at that time as well, so he gestured to us that you all should sit down. When he completed the prayer, he said: The Imam is appointed so that he may be followed. When he performs prayer standing, you should also perform prayer standing, and if he performs prayer sitting, you should also perform prayer sitting. If he is sitting, then you should not stand, as the people of Persia do for their kings. (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The statement of Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that we followed his prayer and we were standing at that time is a clear statement. It refutes the stance of the person who interprets otherwise, because those people did not recite Tashahhud while standing behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Similarly, regarding the second prayer, the narrator's statement that we performed prayer following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and we were standing, so he gestured to us that you all should sit down, by this he means the standing which is obligatory in prayer; it does not refer to Tashahhud.