Hadith 19
The Book of Prayers
'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill and some of his Companions came to inquire after his health. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said prayer sitting, while (his Companions) said it (behind him) standing. He (the Prophet) directed them by his gesture to sit down, and they sat down (in prayer). After finishing the (prayer) he (the Prophet) said: The Imam is appointed so that he should be followed, so bow down when he bows down, and rise upp when he rises up and say (prayer) sitting when he (the Imam) says (it) sitting.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتِ اشْتَكَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ يَعُودُونَهُ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَالِسًا فَصَلَّوْا بِصَلاَتِهِ قِيَامًا فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اجْلِسُوا . فَجَلَسُوا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ
إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا وَإِذَا صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.