Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) that someone asked him whether, apart from Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), anyone else from this Ummah had ever led the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer. He replied: “Yes, we were on a journey during the expedition of Tabuk. When the time for suhoor (pre-dawn meal) arrived, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) struck the neck of his mount and set off. I followed behind him. For a while, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was out of my sight, then he returned and said to me: ‘Do you need anything?’ I replied: ‘No, O Messenger of Allah!’ He asked: ‘Do you have water?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ Then I poured water for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); he washed his hands, then his face, then began to pull back his sleeves, but he was wearing a Syrian cloak whose sleeves were tight, so he brought his arms out from inside, washed his face and arms, then wiped over his forehead, his turban, and his leather socks. When we reached the people, the prayer had already begun and Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was leading the prayer and had completed one rak’ah. I started to go and inform him, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped me. Then we joined in the prayer for what remained, and completed what we had missed afterwards.”