88 — ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us: Musʿab ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Musʿab al-Zubayrī narrated to us, saying: Mālik—meaning Ibn Anas—narrated to me, from Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, from his father, from ʿĀʾishah, the Prophet’s wife, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

ʿĀʾishah said, “O Messenger of Allah, if Abū Bakr stands in your place, he will not be able to make himself heard.”

He said, “Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

ʿĀʾishah then said to Hafsah, “Tell him: ‘If Abū Bakr stands to lead the prayer, he will not be able to make himself heard by the people because of his weeping. So tell ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb to lead the people in prayer.’”

Hafsah did so, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Enough! You are indeed like the women of Joseph. Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

Hafsah then said, “I was never going to get any good from you!”