Thus, it is recommended that the Imam be in a state of perfect prayer. If it is said: "But the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed sitting while leading his companions, and he did not appoint a successor," we reply: He prayed sitting to demonstrate the permissibility, and he did appoint a successor on another occasion. Furthermore, the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while sitting is more excellent than the prayer of anyone else while standing. If he leads them in prayer while sitting, it is permissible, and they shall pray behind him (1) sitting; four of the Companions acted upon this: Usayd ibn Hudayr (2), Jabir, Qays ibn Qahd (3), and Abu Hurayrah. This was also the opinion of Al-Awza'i, Hammad ibn Zayd, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mundhir. Malik stated in one of his two narrations: "The prayer of one who is capable of standing is not valid behind one who is sitting." This is the opinion of Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, because (4) Al-Sha'bi narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "Let no one lead people in prayer after me while sitting." Narrated by Al-Daraqutni (5). Also, because standing is a pillar (rukn) of prayer, so it is not valid for one who is capable of it to follow one who is incapable, just as with the rest of the pillars. Al-Thawri, Al-Shafi'i, and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y) said: "They shall pray behind him standing," based on what Aisha narrated, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) [appointed Abu Bakr as successor, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] (6) felt a sense of lightness, so he came out between two men, and they seated him beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr began to pray while standing, following the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, while the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sitting. Agreed upon (7). This was the later of the two affairs of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and because it is a pillar he is capable of, so it is not permissible for him to abandon it, like the rest of the pillars.
(1) The word is written in the manuscripts as "wara'ahu". (2) Usayd ibn Hudayr ibn Samak al-Awsy; he witnessed the Second Pledge of Aqaba and was a leader (naqib) of the Banu Abd al-Ashhal. He died in the year twenty. Usd al-Ghaba 1/111-113. (3) Qays ibn Qahd ibn Qays al-Khazraji; he witnessed Badr and subsequent battles, and died during the caliphate of Uthman. Usd al-Ghaba 4/440-441. (4) In the original: "li-qawl". (5) In: "The Chapter on the Sick Person Leading the Followers in Prayer while Sitting," from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Daraqutni 1/398. (6) Omitted from A. (7) Recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: "The Chapter on the Limit of the Sick Person Attending the Congregation," "The Chapter on One Who Stood Beside the Imam Due to an Ailment," "The Chapter on: The Imam is Only Appointed to be Followed," and "The Chapter on a Person Following the Imam," from the Book of Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/169, 174, 175, 176, 182, 183. And Muslim, in: "The Chapter on Appointing a Successor to the Imam... etc.," from the Book of Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/311-315. It was also recorded by Al-Nasa'i, in: "The Chapter on Following an Imam Who Prays Sitting," from =
