64/83. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4445 — Abu Bakr Leading the Prayer
The sickness of the Prophet (saws) and his death
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ}.
Hadith About Abu Bakr Leading Prayer
Sahih Bukhari : 4445
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4445
أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَقَدْ رَاجَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ذَلِكَ، وَمَا حَمَلَنِي عَلَى كَثْرَةِ مُرَاجَعَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَقَعْ فِي قَلْبِي أَنْ يُحِبَّ النَّاسُ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلاً قَامَ مَقَامَهُ أَبَدًا، وَلاَ كُنْتُ أُرَى أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَقُومَ أَحَدٌ مَقَامَهُ إِلاَّ تَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِهِ، فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَعْدِلَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ. رَوَاهُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَأَبُو مُوسَى وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
A'isha Narrated from:
I argued with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) repeatedly about that matter (i.e. his order that Abu Bakr should lead the people in prayer in his place when he was ill), and what made me argue so much, was, that it never occurred to my mind that after the Prophet, the people would ever love a man who had taken his place, and I felt that anybody standing in his place, would be a bad omen to the people, so I wanted Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to give up the idea of choosing Abu Bakr (to lead the people in prayer).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4445In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 465USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 727
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4445
This hadith about Abu Bakr leading prayer gives Aisha’s own explanation for why she argued repeatedly about the matter. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had ordered that Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer during his illness. Aisha says she did not think people would love anyone who stood in the Prophet’s place after him. She feared people might take that person as a bad omen, so she wanted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to change the choice away from Abu Bakr. The text does not present this as a ruling discussion from Aisha; it shows her concern, emotion, and fear for how people might react. For searches like Abu Bakr lead prayer hadith, this narration explains her motive in simple words.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.
- Aisha’s repeated request came from concern about people’s reaction.
- The hadith shows the emotional weight of standing in the Prophet’s place.
- Aisha wanted to protect Abu Bakr from being disliked or seen badly.
