The issue of i'qaa' (sitting on the heels) between the two prostrations, and observing whether the imam performs i'qaa' or not

Al-Hawini: We were in the middle of... discussing the issue of i'qaa' between the two prostrations and observing whether the imam performs i'qaa' or not. Why? Is it really a new issue?

The Shaykh: Is it a new issue? Ah, I stated my opinion on the matter. The completion of following the imam, for those who follow him, is established in the authentic hadith: to the end of the hadith, as is well known. In it, he (peace be upon him) says: . We observe in the end of this hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) waived the standing for the follower who is able to stand, in order to achieve following in its most precise sense; . We take from this hadith an important indication that the follower should, indeed must, follow the imam in his postures, as long as he sees that it is from the Sunnah; and a fortiori if it is actually from the Sunnah.
You know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes sit with his legs spread out (iftrash) between the two prostrations and sometimes perform i'qaa'. If we know that the imam does not perform i'qaa' but rather sits with his legs spread out, then it is not permissible for us to perform i'qaa' as long as he is bringing the Sunnah. We combine the established Sunnah with us—and the matter here is sitting with legs spread out—with our following of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the general rule mentioned earlier, which is his saying (peace be upon him): . This is my view on the matter. I told you in the mosque that the observation may be visual or may be based on knowledge; that is, in the sense of knowing. If we know that an imam does not perform i'qaa', it is not necessary for us to see with our own eyes that he does not perform i'qaa' so that we do not perform i'qaa' either; rather, it is sufficient that we know he sits with his legs spread out, and then we sit with our legs spread out and do not perform i'qaa'. This is what I have.