Ruling on Delaying the Takbir of Transition After the Resting Sitting

Question:
It is reported in the hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say the takbirs of transition in prayer from the time he would rise, bow, and prostrate. Is it permissible to delay the takbir of rising from prostration in order to catch up with the resting sitting, when there is a congregation behind him who do not perform it?

Answer:
He has a choice in this, according to the apparent meaning of the texts: if he rises, he sits for a short time, then stands up saying the takbir so that they may follow him and not lag behind him. If he sits after the takbir, he should alert them so they do not rush ahead, saying: "We are sitting for the resting sitting, which is a light sitting, so you should sit for it; do not get ahead of me. It is a light sitting, with no dhikr in it and no du'a' in it; it is light. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do it, like the sitting between the two prostrations. If he does it after the takbir, he should advise them not to rush. If he does it before the takbir, that does no harm, because when he says the takbir, they will follow him after that. It is a recommended sitting, not an obligatory one.