Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was afflicted with his final illness, I was present there with a group of Muslims. Meanwhile, Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the call to prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Tell someone to lead the people in prayer.” I went out and found that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was present among the people, but Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq was not present. I said, “Umar! Step forward and lead the prayer.” So Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward. When he said the takbeer and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard his voice, as Hazrat Umar’s voice was loud, he said, “Where is Abu Bakr? Allah and the Muslims refuse this. Allah and the Muslims refuse this.” Then someone was sent to call Hazrat Siddiq Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him). When he came, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had already led the people in that prayer. Then Hazrat Siddiq Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him) led the people in prayer. Abdullah says that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me, “Alas! O Ibn Zam’ah! What have you done to me? By Allah! When you told me to step forward, I thought the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had commanded you to do so. If it was not so, I would never have led the people in prayer.” I said to him, “By Allah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not command me to do so, but I did not see Hazrat Siddiq Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him), so among those present, I did not find anyone more deserving of leading the prayer than you.”