Question:
Sayyiduna Sahl bin Saad رضي الله عنه narrates that during the Prophet Muhammad’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم illness of death, Siddiq Akbar رضي الله عنه was leading the congregation in prayer. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came forward, parting the rows. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه tried to step back, but the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم signaled him to stand in his place:
رفع أبو بكر رضى الله عنه يديه، فحمد الله علىٰ ما أمره به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من ذلك، ثم استأخر أبو بكر حتى استوى فى الصف، وتقدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فصلى.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه raised his hands and praised Allah according to the command given by the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to lead the prayer. Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه stepped back and stood in the row, and the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم went forward and led the prayer.
When the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم signaled Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to stand on the prayer mat, why did he step back?
Answer:
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه knew that the indication given by the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was out of respect and honor for him; this indication was not obligatory. Therefore, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه did not consider it appropriate to stand ahead of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in his presence.
After the prayer, when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked:
يا أبا بكر ما منعك أن تثبت إذ أمرتك؟ فقال أبو بكر: ما كان لابن أبى قحافة أن يصلي بين يدي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“O Abu Bakr! When I told you to stand, why did you not do so?” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه replied: It is not befitting for the son of Abu Quhafa to lead the prayer standing ahead of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.
It is proven that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه preferred to step back out of respect for the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Similarly, Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه also showed such respect.
Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn Azib رضي الله عنه narrates the story of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
لما كتبوا الكتاب، كتبوا: هذا ما قاضى عليه محمد رسول الله، قالوا: لا نقر لك بهذا، لو نعلم أنك رسول الله ما منعناك شيئا، ولكن أنت محمد بن عبد الله، فقال: أنا رسول الله، وأنا محمد بن عبد الله، ثم قال لعلي بن أبى طالب رضي الله عنه: امح رسول الله، قال علي: لا والله لا أمحوك أبدا، فأخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الكتاب، وليس يحسن يكتب، فكتب: هذا ما قاضى عليه محمد بن عبد الله.
When the Muslims and the polytheists wrote the treaty, the Companions wrote: “This is the treaty which Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, has made.” The polytheists said: We do not accept this because if we considered you the Messenger of Allah, we would not prevent you from entering Mecca; you are Muhammad ibn Abdullah. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: I am both the Messenger of Allah and the son of Abdullah. Then he said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه: Erase the words “Messenger of Allah.” He said: By Allah! I will never erase your name! The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took the document and wrote: “This is the treaty which Muhammad ibn Abdullah has made.”
The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
امح رسول الله فقال علي: والله لا أمحاه أبدا، قال: فأرنيه، قال: فأراه إياه فمحاه النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بيده.
“Erase the words ‘Messenger of Allah.'” Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه said: By Allah! I will never erase them. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Show me those words. Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه showed those words to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, who then erased them with his blessed hand.
Can anyone say that Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه opposed the command of the Prophet? Absolutely not. This hadith is evidence of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه’s respect and love for the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, not opposition. Similarly, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه also stepped back despite the indication, out of respect for the Prophet. This hadith is also evidence of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه’s reverence for the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.
