Following those who are following the Imam

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw that his companions tended to stand in the rear, so he said:

"Come forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow your lead. If people
continue to lag behind, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will put them back."

أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَأَى فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا فَقَالَ " تَقَدَّمُوا فَأْتَمُّوا بِي وَلْيَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَلاَ يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .

(Another chain) from Abu Nadrah (from Abu Sa'eed) with similar narration.

أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، نَحْوَهُ .

It was narrated from Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She said:

"The Prophet was in front of Abu Bakr and he prayed sitting down, and Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer, and the people were behind Abu Bakr."

أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى قَاعِدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ .