Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fell from a horse, so there were scratches on his right side. We went to visit him, and the time for prayer came, so he led the prayer sitting, and we also prayed sitting behind him. After completing the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The imam is appointed only to be followed. When he says the takbir, you also say the takbir; when he bows (in ruku‘), you also bow; and when he raises his head from ruku‘, you also raise your heads. When he says «سمع الله لمن حمده» (Allah has heard the one who praises Him), you say «ربنا ولك الحمد» (Our Lord, all praise is for You). When he prays sitting, you also pray sitting.

Sayyiduna Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about praying while sitting. He said: The one who prays standing is superior. Whoever prays sitting receives half the reward of the one who stands, and whoever prays lying down receives half the reward of the one who sits. Muhammad bin Yahya also narrated it in the same way from Yazid bin Harun.

Sayyiduna Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I had a tumor (cancer), so I asked the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about (performing) prayer. He said: Perform prayer standing; if you are not able, then perform it sitting; if you are not able to do even that, then perform it lying down.