Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them
Da'if
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ - وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ - جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ - تَعْنِي رَقِيقٌ - وَمَتَى مَا يَقُومُ مُقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ . فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرِ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ " . قَالَتْ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَوَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ بِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَى إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ مَكَانَكَ . قَالَ فَجَاءَ حَتَّى أَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ .
“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
fell ill with the sickness that would be his last” – (One of the
narrators) Abu Mu’awiyah said: “When he was overcome by sickness”
–
“Bilal came to tell him that it was time for prayer. He said,
‘Tell
Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ We said: ‘O
Messenger of
Allah! Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he
takes your place
he will weep and not be able to do it. Why do you
not tell ‘Umar to
lead the people in prayer?’ He said: ‘Tell
Abu Bakr to lead the people
in prayer; you are (like) the female
companions of Yusuf.’” She said:
“So we sent word to Abu Bakr,
and he led the people in prayer. Then
the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
began to feel a little better, so he came
out to the prayer, supported
by two men with his feet making lines
along the ground. When Abu Bakr
realized that he was there, he wanted
to step back, but the Prophet
(ﷺ) gestured to him to stay where he
was. Then (the two men)
brought him to sit beside Abu Bakr, and Abu
Bakr was following the
lead of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the people were
following Abu Bakr.”
Narrated by It was
narrated that ‘Aishah said:
Context
This hadith describes a significant moment when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed that Abu Bakr lead the prayer during his final illness. Despite concerns about Abu Bakr's emotional nature, the Prophet (ﷺ) insisted on his leadership, highlighting the importance of community and continuity in worship. This event illustrates the deep trust and respect the Prophet had for his companions.
Modern Application
In contemporary settings, this hadith emphasizes the importance of leadership and community support in religious practices. It encourages individuals to trust in capable leaders, fostering unity and continuity in communal worship.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it underscores the significance of leadership in prayer and the continuity of worship within the community.
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.
The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muhammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
This hadith is #966 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them. It is graded Da'if and narrated by It was
narrated that ‘Aishah said:.