Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was offering the Maghrib prayer, I came and stood on his left side, but he (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped me and made me stand on his right side. Then another companion of mine came, so we formed a row behind him (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in prayer; he (peace and blessings be upon him) was wearing a single garment, the two ends of which were in opposite directions.

Aswad says: Alqama and I went to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) at noon. When the sun had declined, he stood up for prayer and we stood behind him, but he took the hands of me and my companion and made us stand on either side of him, and he himself stood between us. Then he said: When there were three people, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do like this. Then he led us in prayer, and after finishing, he said: Soon there will be such imams who will delay the prayers from their proper times, so do not wait for them (but pray at the proper time), and then consider the prayer you perform with them afterwards as voluntary.

(Second chain of narration) Aswad and Alqamah were both in the house of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). He asked: Have those people performed the prayer? They replied: Yes. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) led them in prayer without adhan or iqamah, and he stood between them and said: When you are three people, do like this, and when you are more, then one of you should lead (and stand ahead). When someone bows for ruku', he should place his hands between his thighs and bow for ruku'. Even now, it is as if I am looking at the difference in the fingers of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I performed prayer with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was behind us, and I was standing at the side of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and performing prayer with him.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I performed prayer with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the house of Sayyida Umm Haram (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made me stand on his right side and Sayyida Umm Haram (may Allah be pleased with her) was standing behind us.