Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that during the illness of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) which led to his passing, Hazrat Bilal came to inform him about the prayer. The Prophet said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." We said, "O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted and tender-hearted man; if he stands in your place, he will not be able to bear it and will start weeping. It would be better if you instruct Umar to lead the prayer." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. You are like the women who were present with Yusuf." So Abu Bakr was sent the message, and he led the people in prayer. After a while, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some relief in his blessed body, so he went for the prayer supported by two men. At that time, both of his feet were dragging on the ground. When Abu Bakr sensed the arrival of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he began to step back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him to remain in his place. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat beside Abu Bakr, Abu Bakr followed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the people followed Abu Bakr.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that during the illness of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) passing, Hazrat Bilal came to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Bilal! You have conveyed the message, now whoever wishes may perform the prayer and whoever wishes may leave it.” He said, “O Messenger of Allah! Then who will lead the people in prayer?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” When Hazrat Abu Bakr stepped forward to lead the prayer, the curtains of the blessed chamber of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were lifted, and he came out in such a way that his blessed face was shining like a piece of silver. He was wearing a black cloak. When Hazrat Abu Bakr saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he thought perhaps the Prophet wished to come forward, so he stepped back from the prayer mat. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him to continue leading the prayer. Thus, Hazrat Abu Bakr led the people in prayer. After that, we did not see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and on that very day, he passed away.

Hazrat Abu Musa narrates that during the final illness of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when his illness became severe, he said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." Upon this, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "He is a soft-hearted man; when he stands in your place, he will not be able to lead the people in prayer." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer; you are like the women of Yusuf." Thus, Hazrat Abu Bakr led the people in prayer during the blessed life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Hazrat Jabir narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in prayer, and Hazrat Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the takbeer, Hazrat Abu Bakr would say the takbeer in a loud voice so that the sound of the takbeer would reach the people.

Hazrat Abdullah narrates that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, the Ansar said, "One leader will be from among us and one from among you." Upon this, Hazrat Umar came to them and said, "O group of Ansar! Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had ordered Abu Bakr to lead the prayer?" They replied, "Yes, that is exactly so." Hazrat Umar then said, "Then who among you would wish to advance ahead of Abu Bakr?"

Hazrat Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman narrates that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was afflicted with his final illness, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." After a while, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some lightness in his blessed body, he came outside. When Hazrat Abu Bakr saw him coming, he began to step back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) signaled to him to remain standing in his place. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came and sat beside Hazrat Abu Bakr. Hazrat Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the people were praying behind Hazrat Abu Bakr.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that during the illness of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) passing, he fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he asked, “Have the people performed the prayer?” We replied, “No.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Instruct Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah! He is a very soft-hearted and compassionate man; when he stands in your place, he will not be able to lead the people in prayer.” Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) again fell unconscious, and when he regained consciousness, he repeated the same instruction. I replied to you three times, so you said, “You are like the women who were with Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.” Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that after a while, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some lightness in his blessed body, and he went outside supported by Barirah and Nubah. Due to weakness in his blessed body, both his feet were dragging on the ground, and I was watching the whiteness of your soles. At that time, Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When he saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he began to step back, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured for him to remain standing where he was. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat beside him. Hazrat Abu Bakr was performing the prayer under the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) leadership, and the people were following Hazrat Abu Bakr.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed prayer behind Hazrat Abu Bakr during his final illness.

Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Utbah narrates that I went to Ummul Momineen Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and I asked her, "Will you tell me about the illness of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at the time of his passing?" She replied, "Why not. When the blessed health of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became very heavy, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' I said, 'No, not yet. O Messenger of Allah! They are waiting for you.' He said, 'Place water for me in a vessel.' So we did so. He performed ablution, then he tried to get up with difficulty, but he fainted. After a while, when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' We said, 'No, they are waiting for you.' He said, 'Place water for me in a vessel.' We did so. He performed ablution, then he tried to get up with difficulty, but he fainted. After a while, when he regained consciousness, he asked, 'Have the people performed the prayer?' We said, 'No, O Messenger of Allah! They are waiting for you.' The people were staying in the mosque waiting to perform the Isha prayer with you. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a message to Hazrat Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. When the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) messenger came to Hazrat Abu Bakr and informed him that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was instructing him to lead the prayer, Hazrat Abu Bakr, who was a soft-hearted man, said to Hazrat Umar, 'You lead the prayer.' Hazrat Umar said, 'You are more deserving of it.' So, during those days, Hazrat Abu Bakr led the people in prayer. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that then the blessed health of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) improved somewhat, so he went to the mosque for the Zuhr prayer, walking between two men with their support. At that time, Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Hazrat Abu Bakr saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he began to step back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him not to step back and said to the two men, 'Seat me beside him.' So they seated the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) beside him. Hazrat Abu Bakr was standing and following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer, and the people were following Hazrat Abu Bakr in prayer. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying while sitting. Hazrat Ubaidullah says that I went to Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said to him, 'Shall I narrate to you the incident of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) illness at the time of his passing, as Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated to me?' He said, 'Yes, narrate it.' I narrated it, and he did not deny a single thing from that incident."

Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) offered prayer behind Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf.

Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d narrates that there was a dispute among the Ansar. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to reconcile between them. When he returned, Hazrat Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed behind Hazrat Abu Bakr.