Sahih al-Bukhari 713
Narrated `Aisha:
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr 
to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he 
stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order `Umar (to lead 
the prayer)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, 
"Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make 
the people hear him. Would you order `Umar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 
"Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu- 
Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt better and came out with the help of 
two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu 
Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet (ﷺ) 
sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was leading the prayer 
while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (ﷺ) and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the 
prayer).
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى مَا يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ، فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ، فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ، مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً، فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ، وَرِجْلاَهُ يَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَأَخَّرُ، فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا، يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ مُقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه‏.‏