Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the Zuhr prayer. He led the prayer while sitting, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was behind him. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the takbir, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said the takbir in a loud voice so that it would reach us. The narrator says: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw us standing, he said, "You people sit down." He gestured towards the people (that you should sit down). The narrator says: We sat down. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he said: "You were about to adopt a practice which the Persians and Romans do with their kings. You should follow your imams; if they pray sitting, then you should also pray sitting, and if they pray standing, then you should also pray standing."