أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ ، قَالَ : رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ" جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَكَبَّرَ، فَكَبَّرَ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَنَزَلَ الْقَهْقَرَى فَسَجَدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْمِنْبَرِ، ثُمَّ عَادَ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ آخِرِ صَلَاتِهِ ".
قَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّد : فِي ذَلِكَ رُخْصَةٌ لِلْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَرْفَعَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ وَقَدْرُ هَذَا الْعَمَلِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ أَيْضًا

Abu Muammar Ismail bin Ibrahim told us, on the authority of Abd al-Aziz bin Abi Hazim, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl bin Saad, he said: I saw the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, sitting on the pulpit and saying “Allahu Akbar,” and the people behind him said “Allahu Akbar,” then he bowed while he was on the pulpit, then he raised his head. So Al-Qaqra came down and prostrated at the origin of the pulpit, then returned until he finished the last of his prayers.”
Abu Muhammad said: This is a license for the imam to be higher than his companions, and this work is appreciated in prayer as well.