4/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 418e — Abu Bakr Imamah
If The Imam Experiences An Excuse, From Illness, Or Travelling, Etc. He May Appoint Someone Else To Lead The People In Prayer; The One Who Offers Prayer Behind The Imam Sitting Because He Is Unable To Stand Must Stand If He Is Able To Do So; And The Abrogation Of Sitting Behind A Sitting Imam For Those Who Are Able To Stand
Hadith About the Prophet Ordering Abu Bakr to Lead Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 418e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 418e
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ رَافِعٍ - قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، - أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَأَخْبَرَنِي حَمْزَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْتِي قَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ إِذَا قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يَمْلِكُ دَمْعَهُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ غَيْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ . قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِي إِلاَّ كَرَاهِيَةُ أَنْ يَتَشَاءَمَ النَّاسُ بِأَوَّلِ مَنْ يَقُومُ فِي مَقَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ فَرَاجَعْتُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَ " لِيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to my house, he said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer. 'A'isha narrated: I said, Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings; as he recites the Qur'an, he cannot help shedding tears: so better command anyone else to lead the prayer.By Allah, there is nothing disturbing in it for me but the idea that the people may not take evil omen with regard to one who is the first to occupy the place of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I tried to dissuade him (the Holy Prophet) twice or thrice (from appointing my father as an Imam in prayer), but he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer and said: You women are like those (who had) surrounded Yusuf.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 418eIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 102USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 836
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 418e
This Hadith about the Prophet ordering Abu Bakr to lead prayer gives a direct exchange. When the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم came to Aisha’s house, he told them to ask Abu Bakr to lead the people. Aisha said Abu Bakr was tenderhearted and would weep when reciting the Qur’an, so she suggested that someone else lead. She also explains that her concern was the people taking an evil omen from the first person to stand in the Prophet’s place. She raised the matter two or three times. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم still ordered that Abu Bakr lead and responded with the words about the women around Yusuf.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.
- Aisha described Abu Bakr as tenderhearted when reciting Qur’an.
- Aisha’s concern was how people might view the first person in the Prophet’s place.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated the order despite her appeal.
