Thus, in this hadith on which ‘Ā’ishah and Ibn ‘Abbās agreed, both recount the Prophet’s illness, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his appointment of \ Abū Bakr to lead the prayer. They relate that Abū Bakr led the people in prayer for several days before the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came out; that when he came out for the noon prayer, he instructed Abū Bakr not to step back but to remain in his place; and that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat beside him, with the people following Abū Bakr’s prayer and Abū Bakr following the Prophet’s prayer, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

All the scholars agree in affirming the truth of this hadith and accepting it. They have examined the legal questions it raises, including the Prophet’s praying seated, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while Abū Bakr and the people stood. Was this a ruling exclusive to him? Or did it abrogate his widely transmitted statement:

“When he prays seated, all of you should pray seated”?

Or should the two be reconciled, with that statement applying when the imam begins the prayer seated, and this incident applying when he sits down during the prayer?

The scholars hold three views on this. The first is the view of Mālik and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan; the second is that of Abū Hanīfah and al-Shāfi‘ī; and the third is that of Ahmad, Hammād ibn Zayd, al-Awzā‘ī and others who instruct those following the imam (1) to sit when the imam sits because of illness.

The scholars have also discussed the case in which the regular imam appoints a deputy and then arrives himself: should he lead them through the remainder of the prayer, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did during his illness, and did on another occasion