What is the ruling on the sitting for rest for the follower and the one praying alone?

Question:
What is the ruling on the sitting for rest for the follower and the one praying alone?

Answer:
It is recommended, and there is no dhikr or du'a in it—this is the correct view—for the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone, after the first and after the third rak'ah, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and acting on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Even if the imam does not sit, it is a light sitting like his sitting between the two prostrations, with no dhikr or du'a in it. Similarly, if the imam does not raise his hands when bowing or when rising from bowing, it is recommended for the follower to raise his hands in these two places, as well as when raising them at the takbir of ihram, and when rising to the third rak'ah in the three- and four-rak'ah prayers, even if the imam does not raise them, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . And he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to raise his hands at the first takbir, when bowing, when rising from bowing, and when rising from the first tashahhud to the third rak'ah. And Allah is the guarantor of success.