49/16. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3672 — Abu Bakr Leads Prayer
Regarding the Virtues Of Both Abu Bakr and Omar, May Allah Be Pleased With Them Both
Hadith About Abu Bakr Leading the People in Salat
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3672
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3672
حَدَّثَنَاإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَأْمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ . قَالَتْ فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَأْمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَفَعَلَتْ حَفْصَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا كُنْتُ لأُصِيبَ مِنْكِ خَيْرًا . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبِي مُوسَى وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَسَالِمِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَمْعَةَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Order Abu Bakr To Lead The People In Salat." 'Aishah Said: "O Messenger Of Allah! If Abu Bakr Takes Your Place, The People Will Not Be Able To Hear Due To His Crying, So Order 'Umar To Lead The People In Salat." She Said: "So He Said: 'Order Abu Bakr To Lead The People In Salat.'"'Aishah Said: "So I Said To Hafsah: 'Tell Him That If Abu Bakr Takes Your Place, Then The People Will Not Be Able To Hear Due To His Crying, So Order 'Umar To Lead The People In Salat.'" Upon This Hafsah Did It. So The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Indeed You Are But Like The Companions Of Yusuf! Order Abu Bakr To Lead The People In Salat." So Hafsah Said To 'Aishah: "I Never Received Any Good From You."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3672In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 68English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3672
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3672
This hadith about Abu Bakr leading Salat shows a repeated command from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Aishah said that if Abu Bakr stood in the Prophet’s place, people would not be able to hear because of his crying. She asked that Umar be ordered instead. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم still said, “Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in Salat.” Aishah then asked Hafsah to say the same thing, and Hafsah did. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered with the phrase about the companions of Yusuf and again ordered Abu Bakr to lead. The main lesson is clear from the text: despite the concern raised, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم kept Abu Bakr as the one to lead the prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeatedly ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in Salat.
- Aishah’s stated concern was Abu Bakr’s crying and the people not hearing him.
- The command remained the same even after the concern was repeated.
- The hadith shows Abu Bakr’s tenderness together with his appointed role in prayer.
