"We were with ʿAisha discussing the regularity of offering the prayer and dignifying it. She said, 'When Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell sick with the fatal illness and when the time of prayer became due and Adhan was pronounced, he said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' He was told that Abu Bakr was a softhearted man and would not be able to lead the prayer in his place. The Prophet ﷺ gave the same order again but he was given the same reply. He gave the order for the third time and said, 'You (women) are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.' So Abu Bakr came out to lead the prayer. In the meantime the condition of the Prophet ﷺ improved a bit and he came out with the help of two men one on each side. As if I was observing his legs dragging on the ground owing to the disease. Abu Bakr wanted to retreat but the Prophet ﷺ beckoned him to remain at his place and the Prophet ﷺ was brought till he sat beside Abu Bakr." Al-Aʿmash was asked, "Was the Prophet ﷺ praying and Abu Bakr following him, and were the people following Abu Bakr in that prayer?" Al- Aʿmash replied in the affirmative with a nod of his head. Abu Muawiya said, "The Prophet ﷺ was sitting on the left side of Abu Bakr who was praying while standing."  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ ؓ فَذَكَرْنَا الْمُوَاظَبَةَ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَالتَّعْظِيمَ لَهَا قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأُذِّنَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ إِذَا قَامَ فِي مَقَامِكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ وَأَعَادَ فَأَعَادُوا لَهُ فَأَعَادَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى فَوَجَدَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ رِجْلَيْهِ تَخُطَّانِ مِنَ الْوَجَعِ فَأَرَادَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ مَكَانَكَ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ قِيلَ لِلأَعْمَشِ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِصَلاَتِهِ وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ بِرَأْسِهِ نَعَمْ رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بَعْضَهُ وَزَادَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا  

When Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order ʿUmar (to lead the prayer)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Would you order ʿUmar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu- Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt better and came out with the help of two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Messenger of Allah ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet ﷺ sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the prayer).  

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى مَا يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ يَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ مُقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي 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.  

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ إِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُمْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَيَقْتَدِي النَّاسُ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to tell him it was time to pray and he said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."' She said: "I said: '0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to make the people hear his voice; why don't you tell 'Umar (to do it)?' He said: 'Tell a Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.' I said to Hafsah: 'Tell him.' So she told him. He said: 'You are (like) the female companions of Yosuf. Tell Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer."' She said: "So they told Abu Bakr. When he started to pray, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel better, so he got up and came with the help of two men, with his feet dragging along the ground. (When) he entered the Masjid, Abu Bakr heard him coming and he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him: 'Stay where you are.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on Abu Bakr's left, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the people in prayer sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing and following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him."  

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُومُ فِي مَقَامِكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً قَالَتْ فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ فَذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ قُمْ كَمَا أَنْتَ قَالَتْ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى قَامَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ جَالِسًا فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ  

that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in Salat." 'Aishah said: "O Messenger of Allah! If Abu Bakr takes your place, the people will not be able to hear due to his crying, so order 'Umar to lead the people in Salat." She said: "So he said: 'Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in Salat.'" 'Aishah said: "So I said to Hafsah: 'Tell him that if Abu Bakr takes your place, then the people will not be able to hear due to his crying, so order 'Umar to lead the people in Salat.'" Upon this Hafsah did it. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed you are but like the companions of Yusuf! Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in Salat." So Hafsah said to 'Aishah: "I never received any good from you."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَأْمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَأْمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَفَعَلَتْ حَفْصَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا كُنْتُ لأُصِيبَ مِنْكِ خَيْرًا  

“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with the sickness that would be his last” – (One of the narrators) Abu Mu’awiyah said: “When he was overcome by sickness” – “Bilal came to tell him that it was time for prayer. He said, ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he takes your place he will weep and not be able to do it. Why do you not tell ‘Umar to lead the people in prayer?’ He said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer; you are (like) the female companions of Yusuf.’” She said: “So we sent word to Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel a little better, so he came out to the prayer, supported by two men with his feet making lines along the ground. When Abu Bakr realized that he was there, he wanted to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ gestured to him to stay where he was. Then (the two men) brought him to sit beside Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr was following the lead of the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr.”  

لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ تَعْنِي رَقِيقٌ وَمَتَى مَا يَقُومُ مُقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرِ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ قَالَتْ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَوَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ بِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَى إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ مَكَانَكَ قَالَ فَجَاءَ حَتَّى أَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ  

“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  

"There was some fighting among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, and news of that reached the Prophet ﷺ. He prayed Zuhr, then he went to them to reconcile between them. Then he said to Bilal: 'O Bilal, if the time for Asr comes and I have not come back, then tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' When the time (for Asr) came, Bilal called the Adhan, then the Iqamah, then he said to Abu Bakr: 'Go forward. So Abu Bakr went forward and started to pray. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and started passing through the rows of people until he stood behind Abu Bakr, and the people clapped. Abu Bakr was such that whenever he started praying, he would never glance sideways, but when he noticed that the clapping persisted he turned around. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him to carry on praying. Abu Bakr praised Allah the Mighty and Sublime for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ having told him to continue. Then Abu Bakr moved backward on his heels, and when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw that, he came forward and led the people in prayer. When he completed the prayer he said: 'O Abu Bakr, when I gestured to you, what kept you from continuing (to lead the people)?' He said: 'It does not befit the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in prayer.' And he (the Prophet) said to the people: 'If you notice something (during the prayer), men should say Subhan Allah and women should clap.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 793)   

كَانَ قِتَالٌ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَتَاهُمْ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا بِلَالُ إِنْ حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ وَلَمْ آتِ فَمُرْ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْعَصْرُ أَقَامَ بِلَالٌ الصَّلَاةَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَتَقَدَّمَ بِهِمْ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَمَا دَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ صَفَّحُوا وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَشُقُّ النَّاسَ حَتَّى قَامَ خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ فَلَمَّا رَأَى التَّصْفِيحَ لَا يُمْسَكُ عَنْهُ فَالْتَفَتَ فَرَأَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ أَنْ امْضِهْ فَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُنَيْهَةً فَحَمِدَ اللهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ مَشَى الْقَهْقَرَى قَالَ فَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَلَاتَهُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ أَوْمَأْتُ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ مَضَيْتَ؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يَؤُمَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لِلنَّاسِ إِذَا نَابَكُمْ فِي صَلَاتِكُمْ شَيْءٌ فَلْيُسَبِّحِ الرِّجَالُ وَلْيُصَفِّحِ النِّسَاءُ  

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ became ill in the house of Maymunah, so he requested permission from his wives to be nursed in my house. They granted him permission, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out supported by al-Abbas and another man, while his feet were dragging on the ground. Ubaydullah said, Ibn Abbas said, 'Do you know who this man is?' He is Ali ibn Abi Talib, but Aisha does not have good feelings towards him.' Az-Zuhri said, The Prophet ﷺ , while he was in the house of Maymunah, ordered the people to pray, so Umar ibn al-Khattab met him and said, 'O Umar, lead the people in prayer.' So he prayed with them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard his voice and recognized him, and his voice was loud. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Is that not the voice of Umar?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Allah refuses that, and the believers have commanded that Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer.' Ubaydullah ibn Abdullah narrated from Aisha that when he entered Aisha's house, he said, 'Let Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer.' Aisha said, 'O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man who cannot control his tears, and when he recites the Quran, he cries.' She said, 'I did not say that except out of dislike for people feeling compassionate towards Abu Bakr and him being the first to stand in the place of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ .' So he repeated, 'Let Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer.' So I corrected him and said, 'Let Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer.' You are the companions of Yusuf."  

مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي بَيْتِ مَيْمُونَةَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ نِسَاءَهُ أَنْ يُمَرَّضَ فِي بَيْتِي فَأَذِنَّ لَهُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ ﷺ مُعْتَمِدًا عَلَى الْعَبَّاسِ وَعَلَى رَجُلٍ آخَرَ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِيالْأَرْضِ وَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللهِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَتَدْرِي مَنْ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ؟ هُوَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَلَكِنَّ عَائِشَةَ لَا تَطِيبُ له نَفْسًا قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِ مَيْمُونَةَ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ زَمْعَةَ مُرِ النَّاسَ فَلْيُصَلُّوا فَلَقِيَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ فَسَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَوْتَهُ فَعَرَفَهُ وَكَانَ جَهِيرَ الصَّوْتِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَلَيْسَ هَذَا صَوْتَ عُمَرَ؟ قَالُوا بَلَى قَالَ يَأْبَى اللهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ ذَلِكَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ إِنَّهُ لَمَّا دَخَلَ بَيْتَ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلَّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ لَا يَمْلِكُ دَمْعَهُ وَإِنَّهُ إِذَا قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ بَكَى قَالَتْ وَمَا قُلْتِ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَتَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ قَامَ مَقَامَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَرَاجَعَتْهُ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَابَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ  

“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with the sickness that would be his last” – (One of the narrators) Abu Mu’awiyah said: “When he was overcome by sickness” – “Bilal came to tell him that it was time for prayer. He said, ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he takes your place he will weep and not be able to do it. Why do you not tell ‘Umar to lead the people in prayer?’ He said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer; you are (like) the female companions of Yusuf.’” She said: “So we sent word to Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel a little better, so he came out to the prayer, supported by two men with his feet making lines along the ground. When Abu Bakr realized that he was there, he wanted to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ gestured to him to stay where he was. Then (the two men) brought him to sit beside Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr was following the lead of the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1232)   

لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ جَاءَهُ بِلَالٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ قَالَ الْأَعْمَشُ رَقِيقٌ وَمَتَى مَا يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ؟ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَمَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ؟ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَوَجَدَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ بِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَيْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to Banu ‘Amr b. ‘Awf to effect reconciliation between them . in the meantime the time of prayer came and the Mu’adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and asked : Will you lead the people in prayer? I pronounce the Iqamah. He said ; Yes. So Abiu Bakr led the prayer , and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came back while the people were praying. He penetrated through the rows and stood in the first row. The people clapped but Abu Bakr did not pay any attention to it during prayer. When the people clapped increasingly, he paid attention. He saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a sign to him (saying); Stay at your place. Abu BAkr raised his hands and praised Allah for the commandment the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had given him (to lead the people in prayer). Abu Bakr then stepped back and stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stepped forward and led the prayer. When he finished the prayer, he said; Abu Bakr, what prevented you staying (at your place) when I already commented you to do so? Abu Bakr said ; it was not befitting for the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said; What is the matter that I saw you clapping frequently during prayer? If anything happens to someone during prayer, he should say “Glory be to Allah,” for when he glorifies Allah. He pays attention to him. Clapping applies only to women. Abu Dawud said: This is operative in the obligatory prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 940)  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَحَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَجَاءَ بِلَالٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ ؓ فَقَالَ أَتُصَلِّي لِلنَّاسِ فَأُقِيمَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَتَخَلَّصَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ فِي الصَّفِّ فَصَفَّقَ النَّاسُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ التَّصْفِيقَ الْتَفَتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَرَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِ اثْبُتْ مَكَانَكَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى عَلَى مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْخَرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى اسْتَوَى فِي الصَّفِّ وَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَصَلَّى فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَلْبَثَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ؟ » فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مَا لِي رَأَيْتُكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمُ التَّصْفِيقَ؟ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ سَبَّحَ الْتُفِتَ إِلَيْهِ وَإِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ»  

"I entered upon Aisha and said: 'Will you not tell me about the sickness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' She said: 'When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, became seriously ill, he said: "Have the people prayed?" We said: "No, they are waiting for you, 0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ" He said: "Put some water in a tub for me." We did that and he performed Ghusl, then he tried to get up but he fainted. Then he came to us and said: "Have the people prayed?" We said: "No, they are waiting for you, 0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said: "Put some water in a tub for me." We did that and he performed Ghusl, then he tried to get up but he fainted. Then for the third time he said the same thing. She said: The people were in the Masjid, waiting for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to lead the prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent word to Abu Bakr, telling him to lead the people in prayer, so the messenger came to him and said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is telling you to lead the people in prayer." Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, he said: "0 'Umar. lead the in prayer." But ('Umar) said: "You have more right to that." So Abu Bakr led them in prayer during those days. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt a little better, he came with the help of two men, one of whom was Al-'Abbas, to pray Zuhr. When Abu Bakr saw him, he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him not to step back. He told them (the two men) to seat him beside Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr started to pray standing. The people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was praying sitting."' "I ('Ubaidullah) entered upon Ibn Abbas and said 'Shall I not tell you what Aisha narrated to me about the sickness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' He said: 'Yes.' So I told him and he did not deny any of it, but he said: 'Did she tell you the name of the man who was with Al-'Abbas?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'That was Ali, may Allah honor his face."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 834)   

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا أَلَا تُحَدِّثِينِي عَنْ مَرَضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَتْ بَلَى ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ؟ » فَقُلْتُ لَا هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ» قَالَتْ فَفَعَلْنَا فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِيَنْوِيَ فَأُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ «أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ؟ » فَقُلْتُ لَا هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَالنَّاسُ عُكُوفٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَنْتَظِرُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِصَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ قَالَتْ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ أَنْ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ رَجُلًا رَقِيقًا يَا عُمَرُ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ تِلْكَ الْأَيَّامَ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَجَدَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ لِصَلَاةِ الظُّهْرِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يَتَأَخَّرَ وَقَالَ لَهُمَا «أَجْلِسَانِي إِلَى جَنْبِهِ» فَأَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَجَعَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بِصَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَاعِدٌ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ أَلَا أَعْرِضُ عَلَيْكَ مَا حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ عَنْ مَرَضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ هَاتِ فَعَرَضْتُ حَدِيثَهَا عَلَيْهِ فَمَا أَنْكَرَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ fainted and then woke up and said, "Did the people pray?" We said, "No." He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." So, I said, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted person, he will not be able to lead the people in prayer when you are not there." He said, "Aasim, and the tender-hearted person is the best of the merciful." He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." He said that three times, and each time I replied to him. She said, "So Abu Bakr led the people in prayer." Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt a lightness in his soul, and he went out between Barirah and Nubata, and said, "I am looking at his two sandals making tracks in the sand, and I'm looking at the soles of his feet." He said to them, "Sit me next to Abu Bakr." So, when Abu Bakr saw him, he started to move aside, but he gestured to him to stay in his place. So, they made him sit next to Abu Bakr. She said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed while he was sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing, leading the people in prayer with the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the people were praying with the prayer of Abu Bakr."  

أُغْمِيَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ «أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ؟ » قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسُ؟ » فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ عَاصِمٌ وَالْأَسِيفُ الرَّقِيقُ الرَّحِيمُ قَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ» قَالَ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ أَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَجَدَ خِفَّةً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَخَرَجَ بَيْنَ بَرِيرَةَ وَنُوبَةَ إِنِّي لَأَنْظُرُ إِلَى نَعْلَيْهِ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْحَصَا وَأَنْظُرُ إِلَى بُطُونِ قَدَمَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا «أَجْلِسَانِي إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ» فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اثْبُتْ مَكَانَكَ فَأَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»  

[Machine] She said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fainted, and when he woke up, he said, "Should the call to prayer be made?" We said, "No." He said, "Ask Bilal to go ahead and start the prayer and Abu Bakr should lead the people in prayer." She said, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man who cannot recite without crying." He looked at her and, after she finished speaking, he fainted. When he woke up, he said, "Should the call to prayer be made?" She said, "No." He said, "Ask Bilal to go ahead and start the prayer and Abu Bakr should lead the people in prayer. You, women, are like the wives of Prophet Yusuf." Then he fainted again. She said, "Bilal started the prayer and Abu Bakr led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ woke up and they brought him a small mat. He saw my footprints on the ground." Aisha said, "When Abu Bakr realized that the Prophet ﷺ was coming, he wanted to move but the Prophet gestured to him to stay. Then they brought a mat for the Prophet and placed it in front of Abu Bakr."  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ «هَلْ نُودِيَ بِالصَّلَاةِ؟ » فَقُلْنَا لَا فَقَالَ «مُرِي بِلَالًا فَلْيُبَادِرْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ» قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقُومَ مَقَامَكَ قَالَتْ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ حِينَ فَرَغَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ «هَلْ نُودِيَ بِالصَّلَاةِ؟ » قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لَا قَالَ «مُرِي بِلَالًا فَلْيُنَادِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ» قَالَتْ فَأَوْمَأَتْ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ إِلَّا يَبْكِي قَالَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا حِينَ فَرَغَتْ مِنْ كَلَامِهَا ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ «هَلْ نُودِيَ بِالصَّلَاةِ؟ » قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ «مُرِي بِلَالًا فَلْيُنَادِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ» ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ فَأَقَامَ بِلَالٌ الصَّلَاةَ وَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ بِنُوبَةَ وَبَرِيرَةَ فَاحْتَمَلَاهُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَصَابِعِ قَدَمَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَخُطُّ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِمَجِيءِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَأْخِرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَثْبُتَ قَالَتْ وَجِيءَ بِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوُضِعَ بِحِذَاءِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فِي الصَّفِّ  

"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to tell him it was time to pray and he said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."' She said: "I said: '0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to make the people hear his voice; why don't you tell 'Umar (to do it)?' He said: 'Tell a Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.' I said to Hafsah: 'Tell him.' So she told him. He said: 'You are (like) the female companions of Yosuf. Tell Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer."' She said: "So they told Abu Bakr. When he started to pray, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel better, so he got up and came with the help of two men, with his feet dragging along the ground. (When) he entered the Masjid, Abu Bakr heard him coming and he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him: 'Stay where you are.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on Abu Bakr's left, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the people in prayer sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing and following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 833)   

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلَالٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ» فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ لَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ» فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ قَالَ «إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ» فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خِفَّةً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطُّ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «كَمَا أَنْتَ» حَتَّى جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَاعِدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمٌ يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَقْتَدُونَ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to Banu ‘Amr b. ‘Awf to effect reconciliation between them . in the meantime the time of prayer came and the Mu’adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and asked : Will you lead the people in prayer? I pronounce the Iqamah. He said ; Yes. So Abiu Bakr led the prayer , and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came back while the people were praying. He penetrated through the rows and stood in the first row. The people clapped but Abu Bakr did not pay any attention to it during prayer. When the people clapped increasingly, he paid attention. He saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a sign to him (saying); Stay at your place. Abu BAkr raised his hands and praised Allah for the commandment the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had given him (to lead the people in prayer). Abu Bakr then stepped back and stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stepped forward and led the prayer. When he finished the prayer, he said; Abu Bakr, what prevented you staying (at your place) when I already commented you to do so? Abu Bakr said ; it was not befitting for the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said; What is the matter that I saw you clapping frequently during prayer? If anything happens to someone during prayer, he should say “Glory be to Allah,” for when he glorifies Allah. He pays attention to him. Clapping applies only to women. Abu Dawud said: This is operative in the obligatory prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 940)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فحَانَ وَقْتُ الصَّلَاةِ فَجَاءَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ أَتُصَلِّي لِلنَّاسِ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَخَلُصَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ فِي الصَّفِّ مَعَ النَّاسِ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ التَّصْفِيقَ الْتَفَتَ فَرَأَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وأشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنِ امْكُثْ مَكَانَكَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ يَدَهُ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ ﷻ عَلَى مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْخَرَ حَتَّى اسْتَوَى فِي الصَّفِّ فَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَصَلَّى فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ؟» فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «مَا لِي رَأَيْتُكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمْ مِنَ التَّصْفِيقِ مَنْ رَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا سَبَّحَ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ وإِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ»  

[Machine] A dispute occurred between the tribes of Bani Amr ibn Awf, to the extent that they began throwing stones at each other. This incident was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ , so he went out to reconcile between them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was held back until Bilal called the Adhan (call to prayer), then he went to Abu Bakr and said to him, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been delayed, would you lead the prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "Yes." He led the prayer, and when the Prophet ﷺ arrived, he stood beside Abu Bakr, raised his hands and then led the people in prayer. After the prayer, the people praised Abu Bakr, and the Prophet ﷺ did not look back during his prayer. The Prophet ﷺ moved through the people until Abu Bakr heard his footsteps behind him and went to move back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Stay where you are, O Abu Bakr, continue to pray with us." Abu Bakr lifted his hands to the sky, intending to prolong the prayer, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ advanced and led the people in prayer. When the prayer ended, he asked Abu Bakr, "O Abu Bakr, what prevented you from praying with the people when I commanded you to lead them in prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "O Messenger of Allah, by my father and mother, it was not appropriate for the son of Abu Quhafa to lead the prayer in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ." The Prophet ﷺ asked, "Did you raise your hands to the sky?" Abu Bakr answered, "I praised Allah when you commanded me to lead the prayer with you, then I turned to face the people." The Prophet ﷺ then said to the people, "O people, what is the matter with you during your prayer when something happens that you start clapping? Clapping is only done by women. Whoever experiences something in their prayer should glorify Allah and the one behind them should turn to them."  

وَقَعَ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ حَتَّى تَرَامَوْا بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَخَرَجَ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَاحْتَبَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَذَّنَ بِلَالٌ بِالصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدِ احْتَبَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى فَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ فَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ وَكَبَّرَ وَطَلَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَفَّقَ النَّاسُ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ وَتَخَلَّلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ حَتَّى سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ خَلْفَهُ فَذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «كَمَا أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ صَلِّ بِنَا» فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ لِيَسْتَأْخِرَ وَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ حِينَ أَمَرْتُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ؟» فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «تَمُدُّ يَدَيْكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ؟» قَالَ حَمِدْتُ اللهَ حِينَ أَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ بِكَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ فِي صَلَاتِكُمْ شَيْءٌ أَخَذْتُمْ بِالتَّصْفِيقِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ فَمَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ وَلْيَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيْهِ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ»  

"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to tell him it was time to pray and he said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."' She said: "I said: '0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to make the people hear his voice; why don't you tell 'Umar (to do it)?' He said: 'Tell a Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.' I said to Hafsah: 'Tell him.' So she told him. He said: 'You are (like) the female companions of Yosuf. Tell Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer."' She said: "So they told Abu Bakr. When he started to pray, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel better, so he got up and came with the help of two men, with his feet dragging along the ground. (When) he entered the Masjid, Abu Bakr heard him coming and he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him: 'Stay where you are.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on Abu Bakr's left, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the people in prayer sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing and following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 833)  

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 يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ «مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ» فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قَوْلِي لَهُ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ «إِنَّكُنَّ لَأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ» قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً قَالَتْ فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ فَذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ قُمْ كَمَا أَنْتَ قَالَتْ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى قَامَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ جَالِسًا فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يَقْتَدُونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ  

[Machine] When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became sick, Bilal came to call him for prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place, he will not be able to make his voice heard by the people. If you command Umar, he will surely lead the people in prayer." He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." So I said the same to Hafsah, and she said the same to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You women resemble in your attitude the women who tempted Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." So they told Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer. When he entered the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt so much better that he came out with the help of two men, with his feet dragging. When he came to the mosque and Abu Bakr heard him breathe, he went to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ motioned him to stay where he was. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat on the left of Abu Bakr. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to lead the people in prayer while sitting, and Abu Bakr used to pray standing, following the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ , and the people followed the prayer of Abu Bakr. This is the wording of the Hadith of Yahya bin Yahya.  

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 يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّكُنَّ لَأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً قَالَتْ فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ وَسَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قُمْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَيَقْتَدِي النَّاسُ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَحْيَى  

When Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order ʿUmar (to lead the prayer)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Would you order ʿUmar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu- Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt better and came out with the help of two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Messenger of Allah ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet ﷺ sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the prayer). (Using translation from Bukhārī 713)   

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 قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ لَا يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّكُنَّ لَأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً قَالَتْ فَقَامَ يُهَادِي بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قُمْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَيَقْتَدِي النَّاسُ بِصَلَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَرَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَحْيَى وَرَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ عَنْ قُتَيْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ