سنن نسائی · Hadith 837

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said: “When the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم became seriously ill, Bilal came to tell him it was time to pray and he said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” She said: “I said: ‘Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to make the people hear his voice; why don’t you tell ‘Umar (to do it)?’ He said: ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ I said to Uafsah: ‘Tell him.’ So she told him. He said: ‘You are (like) the female companions of Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” She said: “So they told Abu Bakr. When he started to pray, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم began to feel better, so he got up and came with the help of two men, with his feet dragging along the ground. (When) he entered the Masjid, Abu Bakr heard him coming and he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم gestured to him: ‘Stay where you are.’ Then the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم came and sat on Abu Bakr’s left, so the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم was leading the people in prayer sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing and following the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him.” (Sahih)

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020