“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  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer when he was sick, and Abu Bakr used to lead them in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel a little better, so he came out, and saw Abu Bakr leading the people in prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him, he stepped back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him to stay where he was. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr.”  

أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَوَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ وَإِذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ اسْتَأْخَرَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىْ كَمَا أَنْتَ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِذَاءَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ fainted when he was sick, then he woke up and said: ‘Has the time for prayer come?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Tell Bilal to call the Adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ Then he fainted, then he woke up and said: ‘Has the time for prayer come?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Tell Bilal to call the Adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ Then he fainted, then he woke up and said: ‘Has the time for prayer come?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Tell Bilal to call the Adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ ‘Aishah said: ‘My father is a tender-hearted man, and if he stands in that place he will weep and will not be able to do it. If you told someone else to do it (that would be better).’ Then he fainted, then woke up and said: ‘Tell Bilal to call the Adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. You are (like) the female companions of Yusuf.’ So Bilal was told to call the Adhan and he did so, and Abu Bakr was told to lead the people in prayer, and he did so. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt a little better, and he said: ‘Find me someone I can lean on.’ Barirah and another man came, and he leaned on them. When Abu Bakr saw him, he started to step back, but (the Prophet ﷺ) gestured him to stay where he was. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat beside Abu Bakr, until Abu Bakr finished praying. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away.”  

سَلَمَةُ بْنُ نُبَيْطٍ أَنْبَأَنَا عَنْ نُعَيْمِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ عَنْ نُبَيْطِ بْنِ شَرِيطٍ عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ أَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ مُرُوا بِلاَلاً فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ وَمُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ أَوْ لِلنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَفَاقَ فَقَالَ أَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ مُرُوا بِلاَلاً فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ وَمُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَفَاقَ فَقَالَ أَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ مُرُوا بِلاَلاً فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ وَمُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ أَبِي رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ فَإِذَا قَامَ ذَلِكَ الْمُقَامَ يَبْكِي لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ غَيْرَهُ ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَفَاقَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا بِلاَلاً فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ وَمُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ أَوْ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ قَالَ فَأُمِرَ بِلاَلٌ فَأَذَّنَ وَأُمِرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَجَدَ خِفَّةً فَقَالَ انْظُرُوا لِي مَنْ أَتَّكِئُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَاءَتْ بَرِيرَةُ وَرَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَاتَّكَأَ عَلَيْهِمَا فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَنْكُصَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اثْبُتْ مَكَانَكَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى قَضَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ صَلاَتَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُبِضَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ غَيْرُ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ  

“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