Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah narrates that I went to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, "Please tell me about the illness of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." She said, "Yes (I will tell you). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill, and his condition became heavy, and he fell unconscious." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then when he regained consciousness, he said, 'Put water for me in a tub.' So we fulfilled this command." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then he performed ghusl (ritual bath), and when he tried to get up, he fell unconscious again." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Then when he regained consciousness, he said, 'Put water for me in a tub.' Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "We fulfilled this command." She says: "Then he performed ghusl, and when he tried to get up, he fell unconscious again. Then when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' We replied, 'No, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! The people are waiting for you.'" Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "The people were waiting attentively and eagerly for you so that you could lead them in the Isha prayer."

2. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "He performed ghusl, and when he wanted to get up, he fell unconscious again. Then when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' I replied, 'No!' So he sent a message to Abu Bakr that he should lead the people in prayer." Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "A messenger came to Abu Bakr and said, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has commanded you to lead the people in prayer.' Abu Bakr said, 'O Umar! Lead the people in prayer.' Umar said, 'You are more deserving of it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has sent the messenger to you.' Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "So Abu Bakr led the people in prayer during those days."

3. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some lightness in himself, so he came out for the Zuhr prayer between Abbas and another man. He said to them, 'Seat me to the right of Abu Bakr.' When Abu Bakr heard this, he sensed the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and began to move back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed him to remain in his place. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "So those two companions seated him to the right of Abu Bakr. Thus, Abu Bakr began to pray following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the rest of the people prayed following Abu Bakr."

4. The narrator says: "Then I went to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said, 'Shall I not present to you the hadith that Umm Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated to me?' He said, 'Go ahead.' So I presented this hadith to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and he did not deny any part of it except he said, 'Did she tell you who the other man was?' The narrator says: 'I replied, No!' He said: 'The other man was Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).'"