Saying Subhan Allah to alert the imam in prayer

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ learned that there was some matter between ˹the tribe of˺ Banu Amr b. Awf, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out with some people accompanying him to reconcile between them.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was delayed, and the time for prayer came, so Bilal came to Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ and said, “O Abu Bakr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been delayed, and the time for prayer has come. Would you lead the people in prayer?” He said, “Yes, if you wish.” Bilal gave the iqamah, and Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ stepped forward and pronounced the takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came walking through the rows until he stood in the row.

The people began clapping, and Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ would not turn around in his prayer. When the people clapped more, he turned and there was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him, instructing him to continue praying. Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ raised his hands and praised Allah, then stepped backward until he stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then stepped forward and led the people in prayer.

When he finished, he turned to the people and said: "O people, why is it that when something happens to you during prayer, you start clapping? Clapping is only for women. Whoever has something happen to him in his prayer should say: Subhan Allah, for no one hears him when he says: Subhan Allah except that he will turn around. O Abu Bakr, what prevented you from leading the people in prayer when I gestured to you?" Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ said, “It was not proper for the son of Abu Quhafah to pray in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَىْءٌ، فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي أُنَاسٍ مَعَهُ،

فَحُبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ حُبِسَ، وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، إِنْ شِئْتَ. فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ، وَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ فَكَبَّرَ لِلنَّاسِ، وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ.

فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ، وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ، فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْتَفَتَ، فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ، فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ، وَرَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ، فَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ.

فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ؟ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ، مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ حِينَ يَقُولُ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْتَفَتَ. يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ؟» فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ: مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ.

I went to ʿAisha and she was standing praying and the people, too, were standing (praying). So I said, "What is the matter with the people?" She beckoned with her head towards the sky. I said, "(Is there) a sign?" She nodded intending to say, "Yes."

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ ؓ وَهِيَ تُصَلِّي قَائِمَةً وَالنَّاسُ قِيَامٌ فَقُلْتُ مَا شَأْنُ النَّاسِ فَأَشَارَتْ بِرَأْسِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقُلْتُ آيَةٌ فَقَالَتْ بِرَأْسِهَا أَىْ نَعَمْ

Messenger of Allah ﷺ during his illness prayed in his house sitting, whereas some people followed him standing, but the Prophet ﷺ beckoned them to sit down. On completion of the prayer he said, "The Imam is to be followed. So, bow when he bows, and raise your head when he raises his head." (See Hadith No. 657 Vol 1 for taking the verdict).

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَهُوَ شَاكٍ جَالِسًا وَصَلَّى وَرَاءَهُ قَوْمٌ قِيَامًا فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اجْلِسُوا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا