The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَلَغَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ بِقُبَاءٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَىْءٌ، فَخَرَجَ يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَحُبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ. فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ الصَّلاَةَ، وَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَكَبَّرَ لِلنَّاسِ، وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ يَشُقُّهَا شَقًّا، حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ، فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي التَّصْفِيحِ. قَالَ سَهْلٌ التَّصْفِيحُ هُوَ التَّصْفِيقُ. قَالَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ، فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ، يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ، فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَدَهُ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ، وَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ بِالتَّصْفِيحِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ، مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ". ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ " يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ ". قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The news about the differences amongst the people of Bani `Amr bin `Auf at Quba reached Allah's
Apostle and so he went to them along with some of his companions to affect a reconciliation. Allah's
Apostle was delayed there and the time for the prayer became due. Bilal came to Abu Bakr! and said,
"O Abu Bakr! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is detained (there) and the time for the prayer is due. Will you lead the
people in prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "Yes, if you wish." So Bilal pronounced the Iqama and Abu
Bakr went forward and the people said Takbir. In the meantime, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came piercing
through the rows till he stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr, would
never look hither and thither during the prayer but when the people clapped much he looked back and
saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. Abu Bakr raised both his hands, praised
Allah and retreated till he stood in the row and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went forward and led the people in the
prayer. When he had finished the prayer, he addressed the people and said, "O people! Why did you
start clapping when something happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is for women. Whenever one
is confronted with something unusual in the prayer one should say, 'Sub Han Allah'." Then the
Prophet looked towards Abu Bakr and asked, "What prevented you from leading the prayer when I
beckoned you to carry on?" Abu Bakr replied, "It does not befit the son of Al Quhafa to lead the
prayer in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Narrated by Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) intervened to resolve a conflict among the people of Bani 'Amr bin 'Auf. Delayed in his mission, the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed Abu Bakr to lead the prayer in his absence. This event underscores the importance of community cohesion and the role of leadership in resolving disputes.
Modern Application
In our daily lives, this hadith highlights the significance of resolving conflicts amicably and the importance of leadership in community settings. It encourages individuals to step up and take responsibility in maintaining harmony among peers.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Community because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) role in leading the community in prayer and addressing conflicts.
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.