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