Hazrat Jabir narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once fell from a horse and struck a date palm trunk, which caused an injury to his foot. We went to visit him, and he was praying while sitting in a room of Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). We began to pray standing behind him. Then, when we visited him a second time, he was praying while sitting. We started following him in prayer while standing, so he gestured for us to sit. When he completed the prayer, he said that the Imam is appointed so that he may be followed. When he prays standing, you should also pray standing, and when he prays sitting, you should also pray sitting. When he is sitting, do not stand as the people of Persia do with those whom they honor.