Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
bayhaqi:3885Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī b. Muḥammad b. Yūsuf al-Baghdādī > ʿUthmān b. Muḥammad b. Bishr > Ismāʿīl al-Qāḍī > Ibn Abū Ūways And ʿĪsá b. Mīnāʾ > ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Abū al-Zinād from his father

[Machine] Regarding the scholars from the people of Madinah, they used to say that the Imam's covering (i.e. religious authority) is a covering for those behind him, whether few or many, while he carries their burdens.  

البيهقي:٣٨٨٥أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ أنبأ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بِشْرٍ ثنا إِسْمَاعِيلُ الْقَاضِي ثنا ابْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ وَعِيسَى بْنُ مِينَاءَ قَالَا ثنا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ

عَنِ الْفُقَهَاءِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ سُتْرَةُ الْإِمَامِ سُتْرَةٌ لِمَنْ خَلْفَهُ قَلُّوا أَوْ كَثُرُوا وَهُوَ يَحْمِلُ أَوْهَامَهُمْ