Some men came to Sahl ibn Sa'd as-Sā‘idi. They were wondering what kind of wood the Pulpit was made of. So, they asked him about it, and he said: "By Allah, I know what it is made of. I saw it the first day it was set up, and the first day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to so-and-so - a woman from the Ansār whose name was mentioned by Sahl - telling her: 'Tell your carpenter slave to make for me some pieces of wood that I can sit on when I speak to the people.' So, she told him, and he made it from Tamarisk wood from Al-Ghābah (a place near Madīnah). Then, he brought it, and it was sent to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who commanded that it be set up here. Then, I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray on it and say the takbīr while he was on it, and then he bowed while he was on it, and then he came down backwards and prostrated at the base of the Pulpit; and then he went back. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: 'O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'"
Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 917, 377), Muslim (No. 544a), Abu Dawud (No. 1080), An-Nasa’i (No. 739), Ibn Majah (No. 1416) and Ahmad (No. 21801).
Some men came to one of the Companions and asked him about the Prophet's Pulpit which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used, as to what it was made of. They debated and disputed about that. So, he mentioned to them that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to a woman from the Ansār who had a carpenter slave, saying to her: Tell your slave to make a pulpit for me that I can sit on when I speak to the people. The woman complied and told her slave to make for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) a pulpit from Tamarisk wood. When he finished the Pulpit, the woman sent it to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who commanded that it be placed in its place in the Mosque. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed on it, said takbīr while on it, and bowed while on it. Then, he came down backward without turning his face behind and prostrated himself next to the base of the Pulpit, and he then went back. When he finished the prayer, he turned to the people and said: O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.
Lessons
It is recommended to use a pulpit, and the preacher ascends it. This enables him to deliver an audible sermon that the congregation will hear.
It is permissible to pray on the pulpit, and it is permissible for the Imām to be in a higher place than those he leads in prayer if needed.
It is permissible to use the service of craftsmen for the needs of the Muslims.
Making little movement during the prayer is permissible if necessary.
It is permissible for a person praying behind the Imām to look at him for the purpose of learning. This does not contradict Khushū‘ (humility and focus).
Explanation in Arabic
جاء رجالٌ إلى أحدِ الصحابة يسألونه عن المنبرِ النبويِّ الذي اتخذه رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ممَّ صُنع؟ وقد تجادلوا وتنازعوا في ذلك، فَذَكَرَ لهم أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعث إلى امرأةٍ من الأنصار كان لها خادمٌ نجَّار، فقال لها: مُرِيْ غلامَك أنْ يَصنعَ لي منبرًا أَجلِسُ عليه حين أُكَلِّمُ الناسَ، فأجابت المرأةُ، وأمَرتْ غلامَها أن يصنع للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم منبرًا من شجر الطَّرْفاء، ولَمَّا فَرَغَ أَرسلت المرأةُ به إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأَمََرَ به فوُضع مكانَه من المسجد، ثم صلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عليه وكَبَّرَ وهو عليه، ثم ركع وهو عليه، ثم نزل يمشي إلى خلف من غير أن يَلْفِتَ وجهَه إلى جهة الخلف فسجد في أَصْلِ المنبر ثم عاد، فلما فرغ من الصلاة أقبل على الناس، وقال: أيها الناس، إنما صنعتُ هذا لتأتموا ولِتَعَلَّموا صلاتي.
استحباب اتخاذ المنبر وارتقاء الخطيب عليه، وفائدته الإبلاغ والإسماع.
جواز الصلاة على المنبر للتعليم، وجواز ارتفاع الإمام على المأموم لحاجة.
جواز الاستعانة بأهل الصناعات في حوائج المسلمين.
جواز الحركة اليسيرة في الصلاة للحاجة.
جواز نظر المأموم إلى إمامه في الصلاة؛ ليتعلم منه وأن ذلك لا ينافي الخشوع.
بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى فُلاَنَةَ ـ امْرَأَةٍ قَدْ سَمَّاهَا سَهْلٌ ـ " أَنْ مُرِي غُلاَمَكِ النَّجَّارَ، يَعْمَلُ لِي أَعْوَادًا أَجْلِسُ عَلَيْهِنَّ إِذَا كَلَّمْتُ النَّاسَ ".…