Sahl bin Saʿd was asked about the (Prophet's) pulpit as to what thing it was made of? Sahl replied: "None remains alive amongst the people, who knows about it better than I. It was made of tamarisk (wood) of the forest. So and so, the slave of so and so prepared it for Messenger of Allah ﷺ . When it was constructed and place (in the Mosque), Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood on it facing the Qibla and said 'Allahu Akbar', and the people stood behind him (and led the people in prayer). He recited and bowed and the people bowed behind him. Then he raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground and then he again ascended the pulpit, recited, bowed, raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrate on the ground. So, this is what I know about the pulpit." Ahmad bin Hanbal said, "As the Prophet ﷺ was at a higher level than the people, there is no harm according to the above-mentioned Hadith if the Imam is at a higher level than his followers during the prayers."  

مَا بَقِيَ بِالنَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي هُوَ مِنْ أَثْلِ الْغَابَةِ عَمِلَهُ فُلاَنٌ مَوْلَى فُلاَنَةَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَامَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ عُمِلَ وَوُضِعَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ كَبَّرَ وَقَامَ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ فَقَرَأَ وَرَكَعَ وَرَكَعَ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى فَسَجَدَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى حَتَّى سَجَدَ بِالأَرْضِ فَهَذَا شَأْنُهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ سَأَلَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ أَعْلَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فَلاَ بَأْسَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الإِمَامُ أَعْلَى مِنَ النَّاسِ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ سُفْيَانَ بْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ كَانَ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ هَذَا كَثِيرًا فَلَمْ تَسْمَعْهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ لاَ  

Once Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell off a horse and his leg or shoulder got injured. He swore that he would not go to his wives for one month and he stayed in a Mashruba [??] (attic room) having stairs made of date palm trunks. So his companions came to visit him, and he led them in prayer sitting, whereas his companions were standing. When he finished the prayer, he said, "Imam is meant to be followed, so when he says 'Allahu Akbar,' say 'Allahu Akbar' and when he bows, bow and when he prostrates, prostrate and if he prays standing pray, standing. After the 29th day the Prophet ﷺ came down (from the attic room) and the people asked him, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! You swore that you will not go to your wives for one month." He said, "The month is 29 days."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَقَطَ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ فَجُحِشَتْ سَاقُهُ أَوْ كَتِفُهُ وَآلَى مِنْ نِسَائِهِ شَهْرًا فَجَلَسَ فِي مَشْرُبَةٍ لَهُ دَرَجَتُهَا مِنْ جُذُوعٍ فَأَتَاهُ أَصْحَابُهُ يَعُودُونَهُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ جَالِسًا وَهُمْ قِيَامٌ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِنْ صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَصَلُّوا قِيَامًا وَنَزَلَ لِتِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ آلَيْتَ شَهْرًا فَقَالَ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ