Category: Q n A

When the Prophet, became ill in his fatal illness, Someone came to inform him about the prayer, and
the Prophet (ﷺ) told him to tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer. I said, “Abu Bakr is a
softhearted man and if he stands for the prayer in your place, he would weep and would not be able to
recite the Qur’an.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.” I said the same as before. He
(repeated the same order and) on the third or the fourth time he said, “You are the companions of
Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.” So Abu Bakr led the prayer and meanwhile the Prophet (ﷺ) felt
better and came out with the help of two men; as if I see him just now dragging his feet on the ground.
When Abu Bakr saw him, he tried to retreat but the Prophet (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. Abu Bakr
retreated a bit and the Prophet (ﷺ) sat on his (left) side. Abu Bakr was repeating the Takbir (Allahu
Akbar) of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) for the people to hear.

One night I stood to the left of the Prophet (ﷺ) in the prayer but he caught hold of me by the hand or by
the shoulder (arm) till he made me stand on his right and beckoned with his hand (for me) to go from
behind (him). (Al-Kashmaihani [??] , Fath-ul-Bari).

When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, “Tell Abu Bakr
to lead the people in the prayer.” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he
stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order `Umar (to lead
the prayer)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.” Then I said to Hafsa,
“Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make
the people hear him. Would you order `Umar to lead the prayer?’ ” Hafsa did so. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.” So Abu-
Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) felt better and came out with the help of
two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu
Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet (ﷺ)
sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was leading the prayer
while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (ﷺ) and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the
prayer).

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray in his room at night. As the wall of the room was LOW, the people saw
him and some of them stood up to follow him in the prayer. In the morning they spread the news. The
following night the Prophet (ﷺ) stood for the prayer and the people followed him. This went on for two or
three nights. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not stand for the prayer the following night, and did not
come out. In the morning, the people asked him about it. He replied, that he way afraid that the night
prayer might become compulsory.

Once Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) prayed two rak`at (instead of four) and finished his prayer. Dhul-Yadain asked
him whether the prayer had been reduced or whether he had forgotten. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) asked the
people whether Dhul-Yadain was telling the truth. The people replied in the affirmative. Then Allah’s
Apostle stood up, offered the remaining two rak`at and then finished his prayer with Taslim and then
said, “Allahu Akbar.” He followed it with two prostrations like ordinary prostrations or a bit longer.

The Prophet (ﷺ) had a mat which he used to spread during the day and use as a curtain at night. So a
number of people gathered at night facing it and prayed behind him.

The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed two rak`at of Zuhr prayer (instead of four) and he was told that he had prayed two
rak`at only. Then he prayed two more rak`at and finished them with the Taslim followed by two
prostrations.

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Sa`id said, “I think that Zaid bin Thabit
said that it was made of a mat”) and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions
prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to
them and said, “I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best
prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers.”

the mother of the faithful believers: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in his last illness said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the
people in the prayer.” I said, “If Abu Bakr stood in your place, he would not be able to make the
people hear him owing to his weeping. So please order `Umar to lead the prayer.” He said, “Tell Abu
Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.” I said to Hafsa, “Say to him, ‘Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and
if he stood in your place he would not be able to make the people hear him owing to his weeping. So
order `Umar to lead the people in the prayer.’ ” Hafsa did so but Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Keep quiet.
Verily you are the companions of (Prophet) Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.”
Hafsa said to me, “I never got any good from you.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Straighten your rows or Allah will alter your faces.”