The Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill, and a group of his companions came in to visit him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed while sitting, and they prayed behind him standing. He gestured to them to sit down.When he finished, he said, "The imam is appointed only to be followed. When he bows, bow. When he rises, rise. And when he prays sitting, pray sitting."
اشتكى رسول الله ﷺ، فدخل عليه ناس من أصحابه يعودونه، فصلى رسول الله ﷺ جالسا. فصلوا بصلاته قياما. فأشار إليهم أن اجلسوا. فلما انصرف قال: إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به فإذا ركع فاركعوا، وإذا رفع فارفعوا، وإذا صلى جالسا فصلوا جلوسا.
Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Adhan (688) from Abdullah bin Yusuf, from Malik, from Hisham bin Urwa, from his father, from Ayesha.Muslim narrated it in the Book of Prayer (412) from Abu Bakr bin Abu Shayba, who said, Abdah bin Sulayman narrated to us, from Hisham, from his father, from Ayesha, and she related the hadith, this being his wording.Bayhaqi said (2/261), Hammad said, from Hisham, from his father, regarding this hadith, "He gestured to them with his hand to sit down."I say, this narration of Hammad was recorded by Muslim, but he did not state its wording, rather he referred to the wording of the hadith of Abdah bin Sulayman, which does not contain "he gestured to them with his hand."