I went to ʿAisha and asked her to describe to me the illness of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. ʿAisha said, "Yes. The Prophet became seriously ill and asked whether the people had prayed. We replied, 'No. O Allah's Apostle! They are waiting for you.' He added, 'Put water for me in a trough." ʿAisha added, "We did so. He took a bath and tried to get up but fainted. When he recovered, he again asked whether the people had prayed. We said, 'No, they are waiting for you. O Messenger of Allah ﷺ,' He again said, 'Put water in a trough for me.' He sat down and took a bath and tried to get up but fainted again. Then he recovered and said, 'Have the people prayed?' We replied, 'No, they are waiting for you. O Allah's Apostle.' He said, 'Put water for me in the trough.' Then he sat down and washed himself and tried to get up but he fainted. When he recovered, he asked, 'Have the people prayed?' We said, 'No, they are waiting for you. O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The people were in the mosque waiting for the Prophet ﷺ for the ʿIsha prayer. The Prophet ﷺ sent for Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer. The messenger went to Abu Bakr and said, 'Messenger of Allah ﷺ orders you to lead the people in the prayer.' Abu Bakr was a softhearted man, so he asked ʿUmar to lead the prayer but ʿUmar replied, 'You are more rightful.' So Abu Bakr led the prayer in those days. When the Prophet ﷺ felt a bit better, he came out for the Zuhr prayer with the help of two persons one of whom was Al-ʿAbbas. while Abu Bakr was leading the people in the prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him he wanted to retreat but the Prophet ﷺ beckoned him not to do so and asked them to make him sit beside Abu Bakr and they did so. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (in the prayer) and the people were following Abu Bakr. The Prophet (prayed) sitting." 'Ubaidullah added "I went to ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas and asked him, Shall I tell you what Aisha has told me about the fatal illness of the Prophet?' Ibn ʿAbbas said, 'Go ahead. I told him her narration and he did not deny anything of it but asked whether ʿAisha told me the name of the second person (who helped the Prophet ﷺ ) along with Al-Abbas. I said. 'No.' He said, 'He was ʿAli (Ibn Abi Talib).  

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تُحَدِّثِينِي عَنْ مَرَضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ بَلَى ثَقُلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ قُلْنَا لاَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ قَالَ ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ قَالَتْ فَفَعَلْنَا فَاغْتَسَلَ فَذَهَبَ لِيَنُوءَ فَأُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ ﷺ أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ قُلْنَا لاَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ قَالَتْ فَقَعَدَ فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِيَنُوءَ فَأُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ قُلْنَا لاَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ فَقَعَدَ فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِيَنُوءَ فَأُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ فَقُلْنَا لاَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَالنَّاسُ عُكُوفٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَنْتَظِرُونَ النَّبِيَّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ فَأَرْسَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِأَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً رَقِيقًا يَا عُمَرُ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَجَدَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا الْعَبَّاسُ لِصَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِأَنْ لاَ يَتَأَخَّرَ قَالَ أَجْلِسَانِي إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَأَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي وَهْوَ يَأْتَمُّ بِصَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَاعِدٌ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَلاَ أَعْرِضُ عَلَيْكَ مَا حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ عَنْ مَرَضِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ هَاتِ فَعَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيثَهَا فَمَا أَنْكَرَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَسَمَّتْ لَكَ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي كَانَ مَعَ الْعَبَّاسِ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ هُوَ عَلِيٌّ  

Ubaidullah bin ʿAbdullah told me that ʿAisha had said, "When the Prophet ﷺ became sick and his condition became serious, he requested his wives to allow him to be treated in my house, and they allowed him. He came out leaning on two men while his feet were dragging on the ground. He was walking between Al-ʿAbbas and another man." 'Ubaidullah said, "When I informed Ibn ʿAbbas of what ʿAisha had said, he asked me whether I knew who was the second man whom ʿAisha had not named. I replied in the negative. He said, 'He was ʿAli bin Abi Talib."  

عَائِشَةُ ؓ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاشْتَدَّ وَجَعُهُ اسْتَأْذَنَ أَزْوَاجَهُ أَنْ يُمَرَّضَ فِي بَيْتِي فَأَذِنَّ لَهُ فَخَرَجَ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ تَخُطُّ رِجْلاَهُ الأَرْضَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ الْعَبَّاسِ وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَذَكَرْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ مَا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقَالَ لِي وَهَلْ تَدْرِي مَنِ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي لَمْ تُسَمِّ عَائِشَةُ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ هُوَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ  

ʿAisha added, "I argued with Messenger of Allah ﷺ repeatedly about that matter (i.e. his order that Abu Bakr should lead the people in prayer in his place when he was ill), and what made me argue so much, was, that it never occurred to my mind that after the Prophet, the people would ever love a man who had taken his place, and I felt that anybody standing in his place, would be a bad omen to the people, so I wanted Messenger of Allah ﷺ to give up the idea of choosing Abu Bakr (to lead the people in prayer).  

لَقَدْ رَاجَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي ذَلِكَ وَمَا حَمَلَنِي عَلَى كَثْرَةِ مُرَاجَعَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَقَعْ فِي قَلْبِي أَنْ يُحِبَّ النَّاسُ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مَقَامَهُ أَبَدًا وَلاَ كُنْتُ أُرَى أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَقُومَ أَحَدٌ مَقَامَهُ إِلاَّ تَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِهِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَعْدِلَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَأَبُو مُوسَى وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ؓ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

"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 ؓ  

Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari, told me, "Abu Bakr used to lead the people in prayer during the fatal illness of the Prophet ﷺ till it was Monday. When the people aligned (in rows) for the prayer the Prophet ﷺ lifted the curtain of his house and started looking at us and was standing at that time. His face was (glittering) like a page of the Qur'an and he smiled cheerfully. We were about to be put to trial for the pleasure of seeing the Prophet, Abu Bakr retreated to join the row as he thought that the Prophet ﷺ would lead the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ beckoned us to complete the prayer and he let the curtain fall. On the same day he died."  

أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ وَكَانَ تَبِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَخَدَمَهُ وَصَحِبَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ كَانَ يُصَلِّي لَهُمْ فِي وَجَعِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَكَشَفَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ سِتْرَ الْحُجْرَةِ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْنَا وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ وَرَقَةُ مُصْحَفٍ ثُمَّ تَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ فَهَمَمْنَا أَنْ نَفْتَتِنَ مِنَ الْفَرَحِ بِرُؤْيَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ لِيَصِلَ الصَّفَّ وَظَنَّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ خَارِجٌ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ أَتِمُّوا صَلاَتَكُمْ وَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ فَتُوُفِّيَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ  

The Prophet ﷺ did not come out for three days. The people stood for the prayer and Abu Bakr went ahead to lead the prayer. (In the meantime) the Prophet ﷺ caught hold of the curtain and lifted it. When the face of the Prophet ﷺ appeared we had never seen a scene more pleasing than the face of the Prophet ﷺ as it appeared then. The Prophet ﷺ beckoned to Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer and then let the curtain fall. We did not see him (again) till he died.  

لَمْ يَخْرُجِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثَلاَثًا فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَقَدَّمُ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْحِجَابِ فَرَفَعَهُ فَلَمَّا وَضَحَ وَجْهُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا نَظَرْنَا مَنْظَرًا كَانَ أَعْجَبَ إِلَيْنَا مِنْ وَجْهِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ حِينَ وَضَحَ لَنَا فَأَوْمَأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ وَأَرْخَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْحِجَابَ فَلَمْ يُقْدَرْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى مَاتَ  

"The Prophet ﷺ became sick and when his disease became aggravated, he said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." ʿAisha said, "He is a softhearted man and would not be able to lead the prayer in your place." The Prophet ﷺ said again, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." She repeated the same reply but he said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. You are the companions of Joseph." So the messenger went to Abu Bakr (with that order) and he led the people in prayer in the lifetime of the Prophet.  

مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ مُرِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فِي حَيَاةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ