Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day a group of companions was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards them and said: O people! Do you not know that indeed I am Allah’s Messenger sent to you? They said: Why not, we bear witness that indeed you (peace and blessings be upon him) are Allah’s Messenger. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do you not know that Allah has revealed in His Book that whoever obeys me, indeed he has obeyed Allah? They said: Why not, O Messenger of Allah! We bear witness that whoever obeys you, indeed he has obeyed Allah, and obeying you is from obeying Allah Almighty. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, it is from obeying Allah that you obey me, and it is from obeying me that you obey your leaders, follow your leaders; if they pray sitting, then you should also pray sitting.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Once the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) became ill, so we performed prayer behind him while he was sitting, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was saying the takbir so that the people could hear. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his attention towards us and saw us standing, he gestured to us (to sit down), so we performed the prayer sitting. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, he said: "It was close that you would do what the Persians and Romans do, that their kings sit while they stand before them. So do not do so, and follow your imams. If they pray standing, then you should pray standing, and if they pray sitting, then you should also pray sitting."

Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that in the illness during which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, he said: "Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Abu Bakr is a very soft-hearted (and easily moved to tears) man; when he stands in your place, he will be overcome with emotion." The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You are like the women who were with Yusuf (peace be upon him). Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) led the prayer, and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed sitting behind Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).