“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with what would be his final illness, he was in the house of ‘Aishah. He said: ‘Call ‘Ali for me.’ ‘Aishah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call Abu Bakr for you?’ He said: ‘Call him.’ Hafsah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call ‘Umar for you?’ He said: ‘Call him.’ Ummul-Fadl said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call Al-‘Abbas for you?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ When they had gathered, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lifted his head, looked and fell silent. ‘Umar said: ‘Get up and leave the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ Then Bilal came to tell him that the time for prayer had come, and he said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ ‘Aishah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a soft and tender-hearted man, and if he does not see you, he will weep and the people will weep with him. If you tell ‘Umar to lead the people in prayer (that would be better).’ Abu Bakr went out and led the people in prayer, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt a little better, so he came out, supported by two men, with his feet making lines along the ground. When the people saw him, they said: ‘Subhan-Allah,’ to alert Abu Bakr. He wanted to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ gestured him to stay where he was. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on his right. Abu Bakr stood up and he was following the lead of the Prophet ﷺ, and the people were following the lead of Abu Bakr. Ibn ‘Abbas said; ‘And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ started to recite from where Abu Bakr had reached.’”  

لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ كَانَ فِي بَيْتِ عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَ ادْعُوا لِي عَلِيًّا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَدْعُو لَكَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ قَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَدْعُو لَكَ عُمَرَ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ قَالَتْ أُمُّ الْفَضْلِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَدْعُو لَكَ الْعَبَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا رَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَأْسَهُ فَنَظَرَ فَسَكَتَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ قُومُوا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ حَصِرٌ وَمَتَى لاَ يَرَاكَ يَبْكِي وَالنَّاسُ يَبْكُونَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَوَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ النَّاسُ سَبَّحُوا بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَذَهَبَ لِيَسْتَأْخِرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَىْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَلَسَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ مِنْ حَيْثُ كَانَ بَلَغَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَ وَكِيعٌ وَكَذَا السُّنَّةُ قَالَ فَمَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ ذَلِكَ  

“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with what would be his final illness, he was in the house of ‘Aishah. He said: ‘Call ‘Ali for me.’ ‘Aishah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call Abu Bakr for you?’ He said: ‘Call him.’ Hafsah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call ‘Umar for you?’ He said: ‘Call him.’ Ummul-Fadl said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we call Al-‘Abbas for you?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ When they had gathered, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lifted his head, looked and fell silent. ‘Umar said: ‘Get up and leave the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ Then Bilal came to tell him that the time for prayer had come, and he said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ ‘Aishah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a soft and tender-hearted man, and if he does not see you, he will weep and the people will weep with him. If you tell ‘Umar to lead the people in prayer (that would be better).’ Abu Bakr went out and led the people in prayer, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt a little better, so he came out, supported by two men, with his feet making lines along the ground. When the people saw him, they said: ‘Subhan-Allah,’ to alert Abu Bakr. He wanted to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ gestured him to stay where he was. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on his right. Abu Bakr stood up and he was following the lead of the Prophet ﷺ, and the people were following the lead of Abu Bakr. Ibn ‘Abbas said; ‘And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ started to recite from where Abu Bakr had reached.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1235)   

لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ كَانَ فِي بَيْتِ عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَ ادْعُوا لِي عَلِيًّا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ نَدْعُو لَكَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ؟ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ قَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نَدْعُو لَكَ عُمَرَ؟ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ قَالَتْ أُمُّ الْفَضْلِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نَدْعُو لَكَ الْعَبَّاسَ؟ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَلَمْ يَرَ عَلِيًّا فَسَكَتَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ قُومُواعَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ بِلَالٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ حَصِرٌ وَمَتَى مَا لَا يَرَاكَ النَّاسُ يَبْكُونَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ وَوَجَدَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ النَّاسُ سَبَّحُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَيْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ قَالَ وَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَخَذَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ مِنْ حَيْثُ بَلَغَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَمَاتَ فِي مَرَضِهِ ذَاكَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ مَرَّةً فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was confined to bed, Bilal came to him to summon him to prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tenderhearted man, when he would stand at your place (he would be so overwhelmed by feelings) that he would not be able to make the people hear anything (his recitation would not be audible to the followers in prayer). You should better order Umar (to lead the prayer). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer. She ('A'isha) said: I asked Hafsa to (convey) my impression to him (the Holy Prophet) that Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, so when he would stand at his place, he would not be able to make the people bear anything. He better order Umar. Hafsa conveyed this (message of Hadrat 'A'isha) to him (the Holy Prophet). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: (You are behaving) as if you are the females who had gathered around Yusuf. Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: So Abu Bakr was ordered to lead the people in prayer. As the prayer began, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) felt some relief; he got up and moved supported by two persons and his feet dragged on earth (due to excessive weakness). 'A'isha reported: As he (the Holy Prophet) entered the mosque. Abu Bakr perceived his (arrival). He was about to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by the gesture (of his hand) told him to keep standing at his place. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and seated himself on the left side of Abu Bakr. She ('A'isha) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading people in prayer sitting. Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Apostle ﷺ in a standing posture and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr. (Using translation from Muslim 418f)  

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلَالٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ؟ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ حَفْصَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ إِنَّكُنَّ لَأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَقَالَتْ فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ قُمْ كَمَا أَنْتَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَاعِدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًايَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَقْتَدُونَ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

[Machine] Allah, ﷺ , said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." Aisha said to him, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a gentle man. When he stands in your place, people cannot hear him crying." Allah, ﷺ , said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." She repeated her statement, and he said, "You are the wives of Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." Ibn Shihab told me that Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Utba informed them from Aisha that she said, "I have allowed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to do that, but the only thing that led me to do this was that I feared people would criticize Abu Bakr. And if I did not know that no one would be able to take his place without people criticizing him, then I would have preferred that the people would not find fault with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about Abu Bakr."  

الله ﷺ وَجَعُهُ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ ؓ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَعَاوَدَتْهُ مِثْلَ مَقَالَتِهَا فَقَالَ أَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَأَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ قَدْ عَاوَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ ذَلِكَ وَمَا حَمَلَنِي عَلَى مُعَاوَدَتِهِ إِلَّا أَنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَتَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ وَإِلَّا أَنِّي عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَقُومَ مَقَامَهُ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا تَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِهِ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَعْدِلَ النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ