4/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 418f — 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 Abu Bakr Leading Prayer and the Prophet Praying Sitting
Sahih Muslim : 418f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 418f
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا 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 فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ إِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ . فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ . فَقَالَتْ لَهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ . مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ - قَالَتْ - فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ - قَالَتْ - فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُمْ مَكَانَكَ . فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالَتْ - فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيَقْتَدِي النَّاسُ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ .
A'isha Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was confined to bed, Bilal came to him to summon him to prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tenderhearted man, when he would stand at your place (he would be so overwhelmed by feelings) that he would not be able to make the people hear anything (his recitation would not be audible to the followers in prayer). You should better order Umar (to lead the prayer). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer.She ('A'isha) said: I asked Hafsa to (convey) my impression to him (the Holy Prophet) that Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, so when he would stand at his place, he would not be able to make the people bear anything. He better order Umar. Hafsa conveyed this (message of Hadrat 'A'isha) to him (the Holy Prophet). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: (You are behaving) as if you are the females who had gathered around Yusuf. Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.She ('A'isha) reported: So Abu Bakr was ordered to lead the people in prayer. As the prayer began, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) felt some relief; he got up and moved supported by two persons and his feet dragged on earth (due to excessive weakness).'A'isha reported: As he (the Holy Prophet) entered the mosque. Abu Bakr perceived his (arrival). He was about to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) by the gesture (of his hand) told him to keep standing at his place. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and seated himself on the left side of Abu Bakr. She ('A'isha) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading people in prayer sitting. Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Apostle (ﷺ) in a standing posture and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 418fIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 103USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 837
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 418f
This Hadith gives a detailed account of Abu Bakr leading prayer during the Prophet’s illness. Bilal came to call the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to prayer, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to ask Abu Bakr to lead. Aisha said Abu Bakr was tenderhearted and might not be heard by the people. She even asked Hafsa to repeat that concern and suggest Umar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم still ordered Abu Bakr. When the prayer began, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم felt some relief and came to the mosque supported by two people. Abu Bakr wanted to step back, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gestured for him to stay. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed sitting, Abu Bakr followed him, and the people followed Abu Bakr.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Bakr was ordered to lead the people in prayer.
- Aisha and Hafsa raised concern about Abu Bakr’s tender heart.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gestured for Abu Bakr to remain in place.
- The people followed Abu Bakr while Abu Bakr followed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
