Muwatta Imam Malik (Riwayat Ibn al-Qasim)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to the people of Banu Amr bin Awf to make peace among them, and when the time for prayer came, the muezzin came to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: “Will you lead the people in prayer so that I may give the iqamah?” He said: “Yes!” Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) began to lead the prayer, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived while the people were in prayer. He walked forward and stood in the front row, and the people began to clap their hands. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) would not look around during the prayer, but when the people clapped excessively, he looked and saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) signaled him to remain in his place, but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) raised both his hands (in supplication) and praised Allah in accordance with the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), then stepped back and stood in the row, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) moved forward and led the prayer. After finishing the prayer with salam, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O Abu Bakr! When I instructed you, why did you not remain in your place?” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “It is not within the power of the son of Abu Quhafah (i.e., myself) to lead the prayer in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “What is the matter that I saw you clapping your hands so much? If something happens in the prayer, one should say ‘Subhan Allah’, for when ‘Subhan Allah’ is said, the imam will pay attention, and clapping is for women.”