حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ الأَسْوَدُ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ فَذَكَرْنَا الْمُوَاظَبَةَ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَالتَّعْظِيمَ لَهَا، قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأُذِّنَ، فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، إِذَا قَامَ فِي مَقَامِكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ، وَأَعَادَ فَأَعَادُوا لَهُ، فَأَعَادَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ، مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى، فَوَجَدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً، فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ رِجْلَيْهِ تَخُطَّانِ مِنَ الْوَجَعِ، فَأَرَادَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَتَأَخَّرَ، فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ مَكَانَكَ، ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ‏.‏ قِيلَ لِلأَعْمَشِ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِصَلاَتِهِ، وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ بِرَأْسِهِ نَعَمْ‏.‏ رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بَعْضَهُ‏.‏ وَزَادَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا‏.‏

"We were with `Aisha discussing the regularity of offering the prayer and dignifying it. She said, 'When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fell sick with the fatal illness and when the time of prayer became due and Adhan was pronounced, he said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' He was told that Abu Bakr was a softhearted man and would not be able to lead the prayer in his place. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave the same order again but he was given the same reply. He gave the order for the third time and said, 'You (women) are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.' So Abu Bakr came out to lead the prayer. In the meantime the condition of the Prophet (ﷺ) improved a bit and he came out with the help of two men one on each side. As if I was observing his legs dragging on the ground owing to the disease. Abu Bakr wanted to retreat but the Prophet (ﷺ) beckoned him to remain at his place and the Prophet (ﷺ) was brought till he sat beside Abu Bakr." Al-A`mash was asked, "Was the Prophet (ﷺ) praying and Abu Bakr following him, and were the people following Abu Bakr in that prayer?" Al- A`mash replied in the affirmative with a nod of his head. Abu Muawiya said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting on the left side of Abu Bakr who was praying while standing."