Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (8/577)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gestured to him to remain where he was. Abū Bakr raised his hands and praised Allah for the Messenger of Allah’s instruction to him. Then Abū Bakr stepped back until he stood in the row, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, moved forward and led them in prayer. When he finished, he said:

‘Abū Bakr, what prevented you from remaining where you were when I instructed you to do so?’

Abū Bakr replied, ‘It was not for the son of Abū Quhāfa to lead the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in prayer.’

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then said:

‘Why did I see you clapping so much? If something happens to anyone during his prayer, let him glorify Allah, for when he does so, attention will turn to him. Clapping is only for women.’”

Another version reads:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came and made his way through the rows until he stood at the front row.

This version also states that Abū Bakr stepped backwards.

In a version recorded by al-Bukhārī, Bilāl came to Abū Bakr 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 come. Would you lead the people in prayer?’

He replied, ‘Yes, if you wish.’

Another version reads:

‘People, why did you begin clapping when something happened during your prayer? Clapping is only for women. If something happens to anyone during his prayer, let him say, “Glory be to Allah,” for anyone who hears him say, “Glory be to Allah,” will turn towards him. Abū Bakr, what prevented you from leading the people in prayer when I gestured to you?’

Another version states that this was the afternoon prayer, and that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had gone to Banū ʿAmr ibn ʿAwf after offering the noon prayer. It also relates that when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gestured to him to continue, moving his hand like this, Abū Bakr remained briefly, praising Allah for what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had said, then walked backwards.

عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنِ امْكُثْ مَكَانَكَ، فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَأْخَرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى اسْتَوَى فِي الصَّفِّ، وَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، فَقَالَ: " يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ؟ " فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: مَا كَانَ لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمُ التَّصْفِيقَ؟ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ، فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا سَبَّحَ الْتُفِتَ إِلَيْهِ، وَإِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ» " وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: " «فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَخَرَقَ الصُّفُوفَ حَتَّى قَامَ عِنْدَ الصَّفِّ الْمُقَدَّمِ، وَفِيهَا: أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ: فَجَاءَ بِلَالٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ، فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ؟ فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: " أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِكُمْ أَخَذْتُمْ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ، إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ يَقُولُ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْتَفَتَ، يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ؟ " وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: أَنَّ تِلْكَ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ صَلَاةَ الْعَصْرِ، وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ، وَفِيهِ فَلَمَّا أَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنِ امْضِهْ، وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا، فَلَبِثَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُنَيْهَةً يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى قَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ مَشَى الْقَهْقَرَى.