Muwatta Malik #306
Prayer in Congregation
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ شَاكٍ فَصَلَّى جَالِسًا وَصَلَّى وَرَاءَهُ قَوْمٌ قِيَامًا فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اجْلِسُوا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ
" إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا وَإِذَا صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا " .
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace, prayed while he was ill. He prayed sitting, and
some people prayed behind him standing, and he indicated to them to
sit down. When he left, he said, 'The imam is only appointed to be
followed. When he goes into ruku, go into ruku and when he rises, rise
and if he prays sitting, pray sitting .' "
About Muwatta Malik
This hadith is #306 from Muwatta Malik, in the Book of Prayer in Congregation.