Narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went to reconcile between the Banu Amr bin Awf. The time for prayer came, so Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the call to prayer (adhan). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was delayed, so Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and began to lead the people in prayer. Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, and as he passed through the rows, he stood in the first row. The people started clapping their hands, and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was a person who prayed with humility (and would not turn around), but due to the clapping, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) looked and saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured, “Continue.” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his head towards the sky and thanked Allah, then stepped back on his heels. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) moved forward. When the prayer was finished, he said: “O Abu Bakr! When I gestured to you to continue, what prevented you?” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “How could it be appropriate for the son of Abu Quhafa to lead the prayer in your presence?” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned to the people and said: “O people! What is the matter with you that when something happens in the prayer, you start clapping? Clapping is for women; for men (in such situations), it is to say ‘Subhan Allah’. Whoever faces a need in prayer should say ‘Subhan Allah’.”
Hadith Referenceالسنن المأثورة / باب ما جاء في الصلاة على الراحلة / 131
Hadith Takhrijصحیح بخاری، الصلاة، باب التصفيق للنساء، رقم: 684/1204؛ صحیح مسلم، الصلاة، باب تقديم الجماعة من يصلى بهم ... الخ: 421