1299 — Al-Firyābī narrated to us, saying: Qutaybah ibn Saīd narrated to us, saying: Yaqub ibn Abd al-Rahmān narrated to us, from Abū Hāzim, from Sahl ibn Sa‘d, that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—learned that a dispute had arisen among the Banū Amr ibn Awf. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—went out with some men to reconcile them, but he was delayed there, and the time for prayer arrived. Bilāl came to Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—and said, “Abū Bakr, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—has been delayed, and the time for prayer has arrived. Will you lead the people in prayer?” He replied, “Yes.” Bilāl then gave the call to commence the prayer, and Abū Bakr stepped forward and pronounced the opening takbīr ⦗1838⦘ for the people.
The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—then came walking until he stood in the row, whereupon the people began clapping. Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—would not turn around during his prayer, but when the people continued clapping, he turned and saw the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—gestured to him, instructing him to continue leading the prayer. Abū Bakr raised his hands and praised Allah, then stepped backward until he stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—stepped forward and led the people in prayer.
When he had finished, he turned to the people and said, “People, why did you begin clapping when something occurred during the prayer? Clapping is only for women. If something occurs during the prayer, one should say, ‘Subhān Allah’ (‘Glory be to Allah’), for no one will hear him say, ‘Subhān Allah,’ without turning around. Abū Bakr, what prevented you from continuing to lead the people in prayer when I gestured to you?”
Abū Bakr replied, “It would not have been fitting for the son of Abū Quhāfah to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”