make himself heard by [the people] (1). If only you would appoint ‘Umar instead.’ He said, ‘Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’

She said: I then said to Hafsah, ‘Tell him: Abū Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and whenever he stands in your place, he cannot make himself heard by the people. If only you would appoint ‘Umar instead.’ She said this to him, whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘You (2) are indeed like the women in Joseph’s story. Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ She said: They then instructed Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” (3)

In al-Bukhārī’s version (4):

“Hafsah did so, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Stop! You are indeed like the women (5) in Joseph’s story. Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ Hafsah then said to ‘Ā’ishah, ‘I was never going to gain any good from you.’” (6)

This shows that she appealed to him again and instructed Hafsah to do likewise, and that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reproached them for these attempts to persuade him. He regarded them as attempts to persuade him to do something wrongful, like the attempts of the women in Joseph’s story to persuade Joseph.