Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the iqamah for the prayer was called and we were standing; we straightened the rows before he (peace and blessings be upon him) came out. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came and stood in his place of prayer, and before saying the takbir he (peace and blessings be upon him) remembered (something). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) went away and said to us: "Stay in your places." We remained standing, waiting for him (peace and blessings be upon him), until he (peace and blessings be upon him) came back; he (peace and blessings be upon him) had taken a ritual bath (ghusl) and water was dripping from his (peace and blessings be upon him) head. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said the takbir and led us in prayer.
The narration of Abu Salamah from Abu Hurayrah is more authentic than the narration of Ibn Thawban from him, except that alongside the narration of Ibn Thawban from him there is the narration of Abu Bakrah, which is musnad (connected), and the narrations of Ata' bin Yasar and Ibn Sirin, which are mursal; and it has also been narrated from Anas bin Malik.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الصلاة / 4070