The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)
كتاب الإمامة
Read the English translation first, with the original Arabic directly underneath.
Who should stand immediately behind Imam and who should stand behind them
It was narrated that Al-Aswad and 'Alqamah said:
"We entered upon 'Abdullah at midday and he said: 'There will be rulers who would be distracted from praying on time, so pray on time.' Then he stood up and prayed between him and I, and said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do."'
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْكُوفِيُّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ عَنْتَرَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ، قَالاَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ يَشْتَغِلُونَ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلُّوا لِوَقْتِهَا . ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَلَ .