Anas bin Malik narrated that Abu Bakr used to lead the people in prayer during the final sickness of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) until, on the Monday, when the people were lined up in rows in the Masjid, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) drew back the curtain of the room and looked out at us. He was standing and his face was as bright as a page of the Mushaf The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) smiled, a bright smile, and we were filled with joy as we were praying, due to the fact that the Prophet (s.a.w) had come out. Abu Bakr stepped back on his heels to join the front row, because he thought that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was coming out to lead us in prayer. But the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) gestured to them indicating them to complete their prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went back in and drew the curtain, and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) died that same day.

حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ وَحَسَنٌ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنِي وَقَالَ الْآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ و حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ صَالِحٍ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ كَانَ يُصَلِّي لَهُمْ فِي وَجَعِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كَشَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سِتْرَ الْحُجْرَةِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْنَا وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ وَرَقَةُ مُصْحَفٍ ثُمَّ تَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ضَاحِكًا قَالَ فَبُهِتْنَا وَنَحْنُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ مِنْ فَرَحٍ بِخُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ لِيَصِلَ الصَّفَّ وَظَنَّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَارِجٌ لِلصَّلَاةِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِيَدِهِ أَنْ أَتِمُّوا صَلَاتَكُمْ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ قَالَ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ذَلِكَ.

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) did not come out to us for three days. Then the Iqamah was called and Abu Bakr went forward (to lead the prayer). The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) lifted the curtain, and when the face of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) appeared to us, there was nothing more dear to us than the face of the Prophet (s.a.w) appearing to us. The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) gestured to Abu Bakr to go forward, then the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) drew the curtain and we did not see him until he died."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَهَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْنَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثًا فَأُقِيمَتْ الصَّلَاةُ فَذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَقَدَّمُ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْحِجَابِ فَرَفَعَهُ فَلَمَّا وَضَحَ لَنَا وَجْهُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا نَظَرْنَا مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ كَانَ أَعْجَبَ إِلَيْنَا مِنْ وَجْهِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ وَضَحَ لَنَا قَالَ فَأَوْمَأَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ وَأَرْخَى نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْحِجَابَ فَلَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى مَاتَ.

It was narrated that Abu Musa said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) fell sick and his sickness grew worse. He said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' 'Aishah said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to lead the people in prayer.' He said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. You are like the women around Yusuf.' So Abu Bakr led them in prayer during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ زَائِدَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لَا يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ مُرِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ قَالَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَيَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went to Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf to resolve a dispute among them. The time for prayer became due, and the Mu'adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and said: "Will you lead the people in prayer, and I will say the Iqamah?" He said: "Yes." So Abu Bakr led the people in prayer, then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came while the people were still praying. He came and stood in the row, and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr would not pay attention to anything while he was praying, but when the people's clapping increased, he turned around and saw the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) gestured to him to stay where he was. Abu Bakr raised his hands, praising Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, for the command of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). Then Abu Bakr moved backwards until he was level with the row, and the Prophet (s.a.w) came forward and (continued the) prayers. Then when he had finished he said: "O Abu Bakr, what prevented you from staying put when I told you to?" Abu Bakr said: "It is not for the son of Abu Quhafah to pray in front of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Why did I see you clapping so much? If something happens to a man when he is in prayers, let him say: 'Subhan-Allah,' for if he says 'Subhan-Allah' it will be noted. Clapping is only for women."

حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَحَانَتْ الصَّلَاةُ فَجَاءَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ أَتُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَأُقِيمُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالنَّاسُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَتَخَلَّصَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ فِي الصَّفِّ فَصَفَّقَ النَّاسُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ التَّصْفِيقَ الْتَفَتَ فَرَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ امْكُثْ مَكَانَكَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْخَرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى اسْتَوَى فِي الصَّفِّ وَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا لِي رَأَيْتُكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمْ التَّصْفِيقَ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا سَبَّحَ الْتُفِتَ إِلَيْهِ وَإِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ.

A Hadith (with another chain) similar to that of Malik (no. 949) was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd. In their Hadith it says: "Abu Bakr raised his hands and praised Allah, then he moved backwards behind him until he was standing in the row."

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ وَقَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيُّ كِلَاهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَرَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ.

It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi said: "The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) went to reconcile between Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf..." a similar Hadith (as no. 949). He added: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came through the rows until he was standing in the front row." And it says that Abu Bakr moved backwards.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْأَعْلَى حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ قَالَ ذَهَبَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِهِمْ وَزَادَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَخَرَقَ الصُّفُوفَ حَتَّى قَامَ عِنْدَ الصَّفِّ الْمُقَدَّمِ وَفِيهِ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى.

Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah narrated that he went with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) on the campaign to Tabuk. Al-Mughirah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out (to relive himself). I carried a vessel of water for him, before Fajr prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came back to me, I started pouring water onto his hands from the vessel. He washed his hands three times, then he washed his face, then he went to roll the sleeves of his cloak back from his forearms but they were too tight, so he brought his arms inside the cloak and then brought them out from beneath it, and washed his forearms up to the elbows. Then he wiped over his Khuff, then he moved on." Al-Mughirah said: "I came with him and we found that the people had appointed 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf to lead them in prayer. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) caught up with one of the Rak'ah, so he prayed the last Rak'ah with the people, then when 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said the Salam, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) stood up to complete his prayer. That startled the Muslims and they started to say Subhan Allah. When the Prophet had finished his prayer, he turned to the people and said: 'You did well,' or, 'You did the right thing,' and was pleased that they had offered the prayer on time."

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ وَحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ جَمِيعًا عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ عَنْ حَدِيثِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ غَزَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَبُوكَ قَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ فَتَبَرَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قِبَلَ الْغَائِطِ فَحَمَلْتُ مَعَهُ إِدَاوَةً قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيَّ أَخَذْتُ أُهَرِيقُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ مِنْ الْإِدَاوَةِ وَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ يُخْرِجُ جُبَّتَهُ عَنْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ فَضَاقَ كُمَّا جُبَّتِهِ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَيْهِ فِي الْجُبَّةِ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ مِنْ أَسْفَلِ الْجُبَّةِ وَغَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ عَلَى خُفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ قَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ فَأَقْبَلْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى نَجِدُ النَّاسَ قَدْ قَدَّمُوا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ فَصَلَّى لَهُمْ فَأَدْرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِحْدَى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى مَعَ النَّاسِ الرَّكْعَةَ الْآخِرَةَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُتِمُّ صَلَاتَهُ فَأَفْزَعَ ذَلِكَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَأَكْثَرُوا التَّسْبِيحَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاتَهُ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَحْسَنْتُمْ أَوْ قَالَ قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ يَغْبِطُهُمْ أَنْ صَلَّوْا الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا.

A Hadith similar to that of 'Abbad (no. 952) was narrated from Hamzah bin Al-Mughirah. Al-Mughirah said: "I wanted to make 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf move back, but the Prophet (s.a.w) said: 'Leave him.'"

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ وَالْحُلْوَانِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ عَنْ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ عَنْ إِسْمَعِيلَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ عَبَّادٍ قَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ فَأَرَدْتُ تَأْخِيرَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَعْهُ

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed one day, then he finished and said; 'O so-and-so, why don't you offer prayers well? Why doesn't the worshiper look at how he is praying when he prays? He is only praying for himself. By Allah, I can see behind me as well as I can see in front of me."'

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلَاءِ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ الْوَلِيدِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ كَثِيرٍ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ يَا فُلَانُ أَلَا تُحْسِنُ صَلَاتَكَ أَلَا يَنْظُرُ الْمُصَلِّي إِذَا صَلَّى كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي فَإِنَّمَا يُصَلِّي لِنَفْسِهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَأُبْصِرُ مِنْ وَرَائِي كَمَا أُبْصِرُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Do you think that I face the Qiblah? By Allah, your bowing and prostrating are not hidden from me; I can see you behind my back."

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ هَلْ تَرَوْنَ قِبْلَتِي هَا هُنَا فَوَاللَّهِ مَا يَخْفَى عَلَيَّ رُكُوعُكُمْ وَلَا سُجُودُكُمْ إِنِّي لَأَرَاكُمْ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي.