Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, my body has become heavy, so do not go into bowing (ruku) or prostration (sujud) before me. For however much I precede you in bowing, you will catch up with me after I raise my head, and however much I precede you in prostration, you will catch up with me after I raise my head." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Janab Makhzumi did not mention these words in Yahya's narration: "however much I precede you in prostration." And in the narration of Janab Yahya bin Hakim, it is stated: "Indeed, I have become heavy-bodied, or I have become weak and aged."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever catches one rak‘ah of the prayer has caught the prayer, before the imam straightens his back." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that in the narration of Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) it is mentioned: "Indeed, the imam bows before you and raises his head before you." The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "(Your delay in bowing and your delay in raising your head) will be counted as equal."

Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that in the narration of Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) it is mentioned that indeed the Imam bows (in ruku) before you and raises his head before you. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "(Your bowing late and raising your head late) will become equal."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever obeys me has indeed obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has certainly disobeyed Allah. And whoever obeys the leader has undoubtedly obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the leader has certainly disobeyed me. Indeed, the Imam is a shield, so when he sits and prays, you should also sit and pray. And when he says ' «‏‏‏‏سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» ‏‏‏‏', you should say ' «‏‏‏‏رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الحَمْدُ» ‏‏‏‏'. When the statement of the people of the earth becomes in accordance with the statement of the people of the heavens, his past sins are forgiven. Kisra (the king of Persia) will perish, and after him there will be no Kisra, and Caesar (the king of Rome) will perish, and after him there will be no Caesar."

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would raise his head from bowing (ruku‘), we would remain standing until we saw him in the state of prostration (sajdah).

Sayyiduna Amr bin Huraith (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he would raise his head from bowing (ruku‘), none of us would bend our backs (for prostration) until we saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had completely gone into the state of prostration (sajdah).

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Muhammad (peace be upon him) or Abu al-Qasim (peace be upon him) said: "Does the person who raises his head before the Imam not fear that Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey?"

Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, says that in the narration of Sayyiduna Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, it is stated: "Indeed, the Imam prostrates before you and raises his head before you, so this will become equal for him." (That is, your prostrating late and raising your head late will make your prostration and that of the Imam equal.) And in the narration of Sayyiduna Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is stated: "However much I go into prostration before you, you will attain that amount after I raise my head."

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer and turned his blessed face towards us and said: "O people, I am your imam, so do not precede me in bowing (ruku‘) and prostration (sujud). Do not precede me in standing, sitting, or finishing the prayer. Indeed, I see you from behind me, and by the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you were to see what I see, you would laugh little and weep much." Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), what have you seen?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "I have seen Paradise and Hell."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would stand up for the second rak‘ah, he would start the recitation from «‏‏‏‏الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ» ‏‏‏‏ and would not pause.