Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The Imam is appointed only to be followed, so when he says the takbeer, you should also say the takbeer, and when he recites (the Qur'an), you should remain silent.

And Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the same manner.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led a prayer in which he recited aloud. After saying salam, he turned towards the people and asked: Has anyone among you recited with me just now? They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: That is why I was thinking, what has happened to me, the Qur’an is being taken away from me (i.e., the Qur’an is contending with me and due to the mixing, I am unable to recite). When the people heard this hadith from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, they refrained from reciting along with him in those prayers in which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, recited aloud.

Abdullah bin Buhaina (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrates a similar narration from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).

Muhammad bin Abi Aishah narrates from a man among the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): He said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Perhaps the Imam is reciting and you are reciting behind the Imam? They said: O Messenger of Allah! We certainly do (recite). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: None of you should recite except with the recitation of Umm al-Qur’an, or he said: the Opening of the Book (al-Fatihah).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah narrates from his father, who narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the same manner.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) رضي الله عنه narrates: People used to recite (Qur'an) behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. He صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said to them: You have mixed up the Qur'an upon me.

Kathir bin Murrah Hadhrami says: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him), who says that he asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):“Is there recitation in every prayer?”He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied:“Yes.”An Ansari man said:“Now this (recitation) has become obligatory.”But Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards me, as I was the closest to him among the people, and said:“My nephew! My opinion is that when the Imam leads the people in prayer, then (in recitation as well) he suffices for them.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led the Zuhr prayer. A man recited the Surah "Sabbihisma Rabbikal A'la" behind him. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, finished the prayer, he asked: "Who among you recited 'Sabbihisma Rabbikal A'la'?" That man said: "I did." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "I had realized that someone among you had confused me with its recitation."