Is it the Sunnah for the imam to sit or to leave when finishing the prayer?

The questioner : When the imam finishes the obligatory prayer, does he sit in front of the worshippers for the closing of the prayer, or does he leave?

The Shaykh : If he wishes, he may leave, and if he wishes, he may sit; but he does not sit for the closing of the prayer, because the prayer is concluded by his saying, "Peace be upon you."

The questioner : Please clarify that, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : It is not from the Sunnah for the imam to sit after the prayer and for him and those behind him to recite the adhkar, whether individually or in unison, in all the remembrances or in some of them, and then to conclude that with supplication and raising the hands after the prayer. This has no basis in the Sunnah. The imam has a choice: if he wishes, as came in the Sunnah, he may remain in his place before leaving to the right or left, for the duration of saying: Then he may leave if he wishes, or if he wishes he may sit and read whatever is easy for him of the adhkar and remembrances known after the prayer, without obligating those around him to do anything of what he is reading; rather, each one does what is easy for him. This is without doubt. Then he does not conclude the prayer with supplication, neither for himself nor for the congregation around him. If he supplicates, he supplicates with a few words and leaves; because supplication after the prayer, outside the prayer, is not prescribed in general except for an incidental matter, and specifically, that he supplicates and the followers affirm his supplication. This is what is known among the later scholars as the closing of the prayer. This closing has no basis. Rather, what has a basis is to say the salam to the right and to the left, then to sit for the duration of "O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor." If he wishes, he may sit and read whatever he wishes of the adhkar as we mentioned, and if he wishes, he may leave. And whoever lags behind of the followers, each one does what is easy for him of the adhkar and remembrances.