What is the ruling if the followers pray standing behind a seated Imam?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
There are two main perspectives regarding followers praying standing behind a seated Imam. One view holds that their prayer is invalid. This is indicated by Ahmad, as following the seated Imam requires the followers to be seated; the Prophet commanded sitting and forbade standing, stating, "If the Imam prays seated, then pray seated, and if he prays standing, then pray standing, and do not stand while the Imam is seated, as the Persians do for their great ones." The command implies obligation, and prohibition implies the invalidity of the forbidden act. Furthermore, they neglected to follow their Imam despite being able to do so, similar to omitting standing while the Imam is standing.
Supporting text
The second view maintains that the prayer is valid because when some Companions stood behind the Prophet while he was seated, he did not command them to repeat the prayer. Under this view, the command to sit is interpreted as recommendation (istihbab). It is also argued that standing entails undue burden when sitting is permissible. A distinction may be made: the prayer of one ignorant of the obligation to sit is valid, unlike one who knowingly bows less than the required amount. If one obligated to stand sits down, their prayer is invalid because they abandoned a pillar they could fulfill.