Jami' at-Tirmidhi — Hadith #26519

Qutaibah narrated to us, Al-Layth narrated to us, on the authority of Ibn Shihab, on the authority of Anas bin Malik, that he said: The Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, left a horse and it colted, so he prayed. We saw him sitting, so we prayed with him sitting, then he went away and said, “The imam, or the imam was only appointed to be followed, so when he said ‘Allahu Akbar’ So say “Allahu Akbar.” And when he bows, bow down, and when he raises up, raise them up. And when he says, “Allah hears those who praise Him, then say, ‘Our Lord, to You is praise.’” and when he prostrates So prostrate, and when he prays sitting, pray sitting all together.” He said, and in the chapter on the authority of Aisha, Abu Hurairah, Jabir, Ibn Omar, and Muawiyah Abu Issa and the hadith of Anas said that the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, fell down from a horse and its colt was a good and authentic hadith. Some of the Prophet’s companions went May God’s prayers and peace be upon him. Among them are Jabir bin Abdullah, Usayd bin Hudayr, Abu Hurairah and others. And with this hadith. Ahmad and Ishaq say: Some people of knowledge said: If the imam prays sitting, those behind him do not pray except standing. If they pray sitting, they do not pray. It suffices them. This is the saying of Sufyan al-Thawri, Malik ibn Anas, Ibn al-Mubarak, and al-Shafi’i.