2/74. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 602 — Pray as the Imam Prays
About The Imam Praying While Sitting Down
Hadith About Praying Behind a Sitting Imam
Sunan Abi Dawud : 602
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 602
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَسًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَصَرَعَهُ عَلَى جِذْمِ نَخْلَةٍ فَانْفَكَّتْ قَدَمُهُ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ نَعُودُهُ فَوَجَدْنَاهُ فِي مَشْرَبَةٍ لِعَائِشَةَ يُسَبِّحُ جَالِسًا قَالَ فَقُمْنَا خَلْفَهُ فَسَكَتَ عَنَّا ثُمَّ أَتَيْنَاهُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى نَعُودُهُ فَصَلَّى الْمَكْتُوبَةَ جَالِسًا فَقُمْنَا خَلْفَهُ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَعَدْنَا . قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ " إِذَا صَلَّى الإِمَامُ جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا وَإِذَا صَلَّى الإِمَامُ قَائِمًا فَصَلُّوا قِيَامًا وَلاَ تَفْعَلُوا كَمَا يَفْعَلُ أَهْلُ فَارِسَ بِعُظَمَائِهَا " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rode a horse in Medina. It threw him off at the root of a date-palm. His foot was injured. We visited him to inquire about his illness. We found him praying sitting in the apartment of Aisha. We, therefore, stood, (praying) behind him. He kept silent. We again visited him to inquire about his illness. He offered the obligatory prayer sitting. We, therefore, stood (praying) behind him; he made a sign to us and we sat down.When he finished the prayer, he said: When the imam prays sitting, pray sitting; and when the imam prays standing, pray standing, and do not act as the people of Persia used to act with their chiefs (i.e. the people stood and they were sitting).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 602In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 212English translation : Book 2, Hadith 602
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 602
This Hadith is a strong guide for the search term praying behind a sitting imam. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was thrown from a horse in Madinah and his foot was injured. The companions visited him and found him praying while sitting. They first stood behind him, but later, during an obligatory prayer, he signaled to them to sit. After finishing, he explained the rule: when the imam prays sitting, the followers sit; when he prays standing, the followers stand. The Hadith also warns not to behave like people who stand before seated chiefs. The core teaching is not about status or show. It is about following the imam in salah with humility and order.
What we learn from this hadith
- The congregation should follow the imam’s posture in prayer.
- If the imam prays sitting, the followers should sit as stated in the Hadith.
- Prayer should not become a display of rank or worldly honor.
- A simple sign from the imam can guide the congregation during prayer.
