1295 — Abū Bakr ibn Abd al-Hamīd al-Wāsitī narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Rizq Allah al-Kalwadhānī narrated to us, saying: Yazīd ibn Hārūn narrated to us, saying: Sufyān ibn Husayn narrated to us, from Ibn Shihāb, from Anas ibn Mālik, who said:

When the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—fell ill ⦗1835⦘ with the illness from which he died, Bilāl came and informed him that it was time for prayer. He said to him, “Bilāl, you have delivered the message. Let whoever wishes pray, and let whoever wishes refrain.”

Bilāl said to him, “Messenger of Allah, who will lead the people in prayer?” He replied, “Abū Bakr. Tell him to lead the people in prayer.”

When Abū Bakr stepped forward to lead the prayer, the curtains were drawn back from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. We looked at him, and he appeared like a white sheet of paper with a black patterned cloak upon him. Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—thought that he intended to come out, so he stepped back. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—motioned to him, “Stay where you are.” Abū Bakr then led the prayer, and I did not see the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—again before he died later that same day.