It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“When you come for prayer, come with dignity and calmness. Whatever part of the prayer you catch (with the Imam), perform it, and whatever you miss, complete it afterwards.”

Ata says: I heard Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) saying on the pulpit: When any of you enters the mosque and the people are in the state of bowing (ruku‘), then upon entering (start the prayer and) bow, and while in the state of bowing, walk slowly and join the row; doing so is Sunnah.

When Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in the state of bowing (ruku‘). He performed ruku‘ before reaching the row and then walked and joined the row. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, he said:“Who among you bowed before reaching the row and then walked and joined the row?”Abu Bakrah said: I did so. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“May Allah increase your eagerness, but do not do so again.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ka'b bin 'Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a blind man came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I hear the call to prayer but I have no guide (to bring me to the mosque)." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you hear the call to prayer, respond to the caller of Allah (and reach the mosque)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Samurah bin Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When you stand to perform prayer (following an imam), do not precede the imam in bowing and prostrating; rather, he will precede you."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "My body has become heavy, so you should bow (ruku) when I bow, and prostrate (sajdah) when I prostrate, and let it never happen that anyone precedes me in bowing or prostration."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the prayer and said: "Do not precede the imam in bowing and prostrating. When he says «الله اكبر» , then you say «الله اكبر» ; when he says «ولا الضالين» , then you say 'Ameen,' for whoever's 'Ameen' coincides with the 'Ameen' of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven. When the imam bows, then you bow; when he says «سمع الله لمن حمده» , then you say «اللهم ربنا ولك الحمد» and do not raise your head before him, and (likewise) when he prostrates, then you prostrate."

Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Companions used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he would bow (ruku‘), they would bow; when he would say «سمع الله لمن حمده» , the Companions would remain standing (after rising from ruku‘), and when they saw that he had placed his face or forehead on the ground (for prostration), then following him, they would also go into prostration.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik Ash'ari رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم liked that (in prayer) the Muhajirun and Ansar would stand close to him so that they could remember the (commands of prayer) performed by him.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the Imam leads the prayer sitting, then all of you should also perform the prayer sitting."