The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The imam is but a shield, behind whom one fights."
حدثنا محمد بن الصباح البزاز قال حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن أبي الزناد عن أبي الزناد عن الأعرج
قال رسول الله ﷺ إنما الإمام جنة يقاتل به
Its isnad is hasan. Bayhaqi (9/223) reported it from the hadith of Abu Dawud through this same chain. Bukhari (9/223, no. 2957) and Muslim (no. 1841) also reported it from the hadith of Abu Zinad through this same chain. It was narrated to us...