لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ". فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى مَا يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ، فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ. فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ". فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ، فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ. قَالَ " إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ، مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ". فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً، فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ، وَرِجْلاَهُ يَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَأَخَّرُ، فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا، يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ مُقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه.
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakrto lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if hestands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order `Umar (to leadthe 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 makethe 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 oftwo persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When AbuBakr 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 prayerwhile sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (ﷺ) and the people were following Abu Bakr (in theprayer).