SECTION ON PRAYER · 69 – THE IMAM PERFORMING PRAYER SITTING DOWN
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was riding a she-camel and it stumbled, and his right side was scraped and injured. He performed one of the prayers while seated. We also sat behind him [to pray]. When he turned [after completing the prayer], he said: “Indeed, the Imam is only appointed to be followed. So when he stands, you stand; when he makes a bow (ruku’), you make a bow; when he rises, you rise. And when he says, ‘Allah is praised,’ you say, ‘O our Lord, all praise is due to You.’ When he prays seated, you all pray seated.” [390]
COMMENTARY:
Suria: Means “it fell” or "collapsed."
Cuhsa: Means “it split,” “it was rubbed,” or “it was scraped.”
According to Ahmad ibn Hanbal, if the Imam performs the prayer while seated, the congregation also prays seated.
According to Imam al-Awwal (Abu Hanifa) and al-Shafi’i, even if the Imam prays seated, the congregation follows standing;
Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Performing the imamate while seated is not appropriate. (Bezl-ul-Mechud, vol. 4, p. 235) (Avn al-Mabud, vol. 2, p. 312)
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was riding a she-camel in Medina when it stumbled and he came out from under her, dislocating his ankle. We went to visit the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to offer condolences. We found him sitting in a place belonging to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), performing prayer. We stood behind him. He did not say anything to us. We visited him again to inquire about his illness. He performed the obligatory prayer while sitting, and we stood behind him. He gestured to us. We immediately sat down. Jabir said: When he finished the prayer, he said:
“When the Imam prays sitting, you pray sitting. When the Imam stands, you stand. Do not do as the notables of the people of Fars do.” [391]
**Explanation:**
*Mesruba:* Means a storeroom where food and drink are placed.
*‘Ciz’in – Nahleti:* Means the root part of the date palm. The Persians show respect to their dignitaries by standing up. The companions also stood up for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ out of reverence, but he forbade them from showing him respect by standing. He indicated that respect should be in the heart.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “An Imam is appointed only to be followed. When he takes the *takbir*, you also take the *takbir*, but do not take the *takbir* until he does. When he bows down, bow down. Do not bow down until he bows down. When he says, ‘Semiallahu liman hamidah,’ say, ‘O Allah, O our Lord, all praise is due to You.’ Muslim said, ‘And praise belongs to You alone.’ When the Imam prostrates, you also prostrate. Do not prostrate until he prostrates. When he stands, you stand. And when he sits, you all sit together.”
Abu Dawud says: Some among our narrators related to me without the “Allahumma Rabbana” as ‘Allahumme rabbena lekel hamdu.’
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “An Imam is appointed to be followed.” This report was related. In the narration of Zayd ibn Aslam, the following sentence was added: "Be silent when the Imam recites."
Abu Dawud says: The addition, "Be silent when the Imam recites," is not securely preserved.
The error in this is from Abu Khalid.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) performed a prayer while sitting in his home. A congregation stood behind him. He gestured to them to sit. When he concluded the prayer, he said, “The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, you bow; when he rises, you rise; and when he sits, you sit.” [393]
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fell ill. We prayed while the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sitting. Abu Bakr would say the takbir for the congregation so that they could hear the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) takbir. Then the narrator excused himself from relating the hadith.
Usayd ibn Hudayr, may Allah be pleased with him, would lead the congregation (and he fell ill).
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, visited him. They said, “O Messenger of Allah! Our Imam is sick, what should we do?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“When he prays sitting down, you pray sitting down.” Abu Dawud said: This hadith is not connected.