[Ahmad stated this, and he said:] (133) Such was said by Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him. Ahmad said (134): There is no harm for one who prays behind the Imam to perform voluntary prayers in his place; Ibn Umar did this. Ishaq also held this view (135). It was narrated (136) from al-Mughirah [ibn Shu'bah] (137) that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said: "The Imam shall not perform voluntary prayers in the place (138) where he prays with the people." [Narrated by Abu Dawud, with his chain of narration (139), except that Ahmad said: I do not know this from anyone other than Ali.] (140).
182 - Issue: He said: (And the man and the woman are equal in that, except that the woman gathers herself in bowing and prostrating, and sits cross-legged, or she stretches her legs out and places them on her right side.)
The fundamental principle is that the rulings of prayer that are established for men are also established for women, because the address [in the texts] includes both of them (2). However, she differs from him in omitting the state of Tajafi (raising the stomach away from the thighs in prostration), because she is 'awrah (must be covered), so it is recommended for her to gather herself so that it is more concealing for her, for it is not guaranteed that something of her might become exposed during Tajafi. Likewise (3) in the Iftirash (sitting on the left foot with the right foot upright), Ahmad said: "As-Sadl (stretching the legs) is more pleasing to me." Al-Khallal chose this. He said
(133) Omitted from: M. (134) Omitted from: The original. (135) In M, there is an addition: "Abu Bakr narrated the hadith of Ali with his chain of narration." (136) In M: "And with his chain of narration." (137) Omitted from: The original. (138) In M: "his station." (139) In: The Chapter on the Imam performing voluntary prayer in his place, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/144. It was also narrated by Ibn Majah, in the chapter: What has been said regarding performing voluntary prayer where the obligatory prayer is performed, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/459. (140) Omitted from: M. (1) In M: "established." (2) In M: "includes them [feminine]." (3) In M: "And that is."