[Machine] When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sick, I was with him in a group of Muslims. Bilal called for prayer and said, "Tell someone to lead the people in prayer." So, I went out and found Umar with the people, and Abu Bakr was absent. I said to Umar, "Arise and lead the people in prayer." He stood up, and when he pronounced the takbeer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard his voice. Umar was a loud man. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Where is Abu Bakr? May Allah and the Muslims not accept that." He sent for Abu Bakr, who came after Umar had finished the prayer. Abu Bakr led the people in prayer. Abdullah ibn Zam'ah said that Umar said to me, "Woe to you, Ibn Zam'ah! What have you done to me? By Allah, I did not think when you commanded me except that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had ordered you to do so, and if it were not for that, I would not have led the people in prayer." I said, "By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not command me to do so, but when I did not see Abu Bakr, I considered you more entitled to lead the people in prayer than anyone else present."
لَمَّا اسْتُعِزَّ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَنَا عِنْدَهُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ دَعَا بِلَالٌ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ «مُرُوا مَنْ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ» فَخَرَجْتُ فَإِذَا عُمَرُ فِي النَّاسِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ غَائِبًا فَقُلْتُ يَا عُمَرُ قُمْ فَصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَامَ فَلَمَّا كَبَّرَ سَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَوْتَهُ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ رَجُلًا جَهِيرًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «فَأَيْنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ؟ يَأْبَى اللهُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ ذَلِكَ» فَبَعَثَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَجَاءَ بَعْدَ أَنْ صَلَّى عُمَرُ تِلْكَ الصَّلَاةَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ زَمْعَةَ فَقَالَ لِي عُمَرُ وَيْحَكَ مَاذَا صَنَعْتَ بِي يَا ابْنَ زَمْعَةَ؟ وَاللهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ حِينَ أَمَرْتَنِي إِلَّا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَمَرَكَ بِذَلِكَ وَلَوْلَا ذَلِكَ مَا صَلَّيْتُ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْتُ وَاللهِ مَا أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَكِنْ حِينَ لَمْ أَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَأَيْتُكَ أَحَقَّ مَنْ حَضَرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ مِنَ النَّاسِ