[Machine] When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was in severe pain and I was with him in the presence of some Muslims, he called Bilal to perform the prayer and said, "Tell him to command the people to pray." So Bilal went out and came to Umar, as Abu Bakr was absent, and said, "O Umar, stand and lead the prayer for the people." Umar stood up, and when he recited the takbeer (saying "Allahu Akbar" to begin the prayer), the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ heard his voice. Umar had a loud voice. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Where is Abu Bakr? May Allah refuse to grant him that and the Muslims." He repeated this several times. Then he sent for Abu Bakr, who came after Umar had led the prayer. Abu Bakr led the people in prayer. Abdullah ibn Zam'ah said, "Umar asked me, 'What did you do to me, Ibn Zam'ah?' By Allah, when you commanded me to lead the people in prayer, I did not think that I should do so unless the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had commanded me to do so. If it weren't for that, I would not have led the people in prayer. I said, 'The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did command you to do so, but when I did not see Abu Bakr, I thought you were better than one who was present.'"
لَمَّا اشْتَدَّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَجَعُهُ وَأَنَا عِنْدَهُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ دَعَا بِلَالٌ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ «مُرُوهُ فَلْيَأْمُرِ النَّاسَ يُصَلُّوا» فَخَرَجَ فَأَتَى عُمَرُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ غَائِبًا فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ قُمْ فَصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَامَ فَلَمَّا كَبَّرَ سَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَوْتَهُ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ جُهَيْرَ الصَّوْتِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «أَيْنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْبَى اللهُ ذَلِكَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ» فَرَدَّدَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا فَبَعَثَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَجَاءَ بَعْدَ أَنْ صَلَّى عُمَرُ تِلْكَ الصَّلَاةَ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ زَمْعَةَ قَالَ لِي عُمَرُ مَا صَنَعْتَ بِي يَا ابْنَ زَمْعَةَ؟ وَاللهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ حِينَ أَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ إِلَّا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَمَرَكَ بِذَلِكَ وَلَوْلَا ذَلِكَ مَا صَلَّيْتُ بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَكِنْ حِينَ لَمْ أَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَأَيْتُكَ خَيْرَ مَنْ حَضَرَ