Seerah / Final days
"Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer"
- Date
- Rabi' al-Awwal, 11 AH · established
- Location
- The Prophet's Mosque
- People
- Abu Bakr (RA), Aisha (RA)
Aisha (RA) narrates in Sahih al-Bukhari that during his final illness the Prophet ﷺ insisted that Abu Bakr (RA) lead the prayer, and how he came out once, supported between two men, to join it.
As it was narrated
The story, in the words of those who were there
Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ الأَسْوَدُ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ فَذَكَرْنَا الْمُوَاظَبَةَ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَالتَّعْظِيمَ لَهَا، قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأُذِّنَ، فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاس…
Narrated Al-Aswad:"We were with `Aisha discussing the regularity of offering the prayer and dignifying it. She said, 'When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fell sick with the fatal illness and when the time of prayer became due and Adhan was pronounced, he said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' He was told that Abu Bakr was a softhearted man and would not be able to lead the prayer in his place. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave the same order again but he was given the same reply. He gave the order for the third time and said, 'You (women) are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.' So Abu Bakr came out to lead the prayer. In the meantime the condition of the Prophet (ﷺ) improved …
Lessons
- Even in illness his heart was with the prayer.
- Prepare others to carry the trust after you.
Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.
Pause for a moment
Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.
Send salawat ﷺBibliography
- Sahih al-Bukhari 664 (Aisha) · primary source
- Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)