English translation
377. Narrated Abu Hāzim: Sahl bin Sa'dwas asked about the (Prophet's ﷺ) pulpit asto what thing it was made of? Sahl replied,"None remains alive amongst the people,who knows about it better than I. It was madeof tamarisk (wood) of the forest. So-and-so,the slave of so-and-so prepared it for Allāh'sMessenger ﷺ. When it was constructed andplaced (in the mosque), Allāh's Messenger ﷺ stood on it facing the Qiblah and said 'Allāhu Akbar', and the people stood behind him [and he led the people in Ṣalāt (prayer)]. He ﷺ recited and bowed and the people bowed behind him. Then he raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground and then he again ascended the pulpit, recited, bowed, raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground. So, this is what I know about the pulpit." Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal said, "As the Prophet ﷺ was at a higher level than the people, there is no harm according to the above-mentioned Hadīth if the Imām is at a higher level than his followers during the prayers."