Abu Bakr: Difference between revisions

When the [[Prophet (s)]] was trying to send the army of [[Usama b. Zayd|Usama]] to [[Syria]], his illness so aggravated that when [[Bilal]] called for the prayer, he (s) could not get up for prayer and attend the mosque, so he (s) decided to send someone instead of himself for the prayer. There are disagreements regarding the way of holding this prayer, its leader, the number of prayers held without the presence of the Prophet (s), and that if a complete prayer was ever held by Abu Bakr or not.

According to a hadith, when the Prophet's illness exacerbated, he said: "send someone to 'Ali and call him to visit me." [['A'isha]] suggested that someone be sent to Abu Bakr, and [[Hafsa]] sent someone to 'Umar. When they went to the Prophet, the Prophet said, "go away! If I needed you, I would summon you."

With all such differences in reports, it is said that Abu Bakr stood to lead the prayer instead of the Prophet (s). However, the reaction of the Prophet (s) about this prayer has been reported differently. There is a report from [[Aisha]] that when Abu Bakr was in the middle of this prayer, the Prophet (s) got better, got up and came to the mosque while he (s) leaned on two people and his feet were being dragged on the ground. As soon as Abu Bakr found that the Prophet (s) was there, stood aside, but the Prophet (s) pointed that he should stay where he was. Then the Prophet (s) came and sat on his left. So, the Prophet (s) prayed while sitting and Abu Bakr prayed normally. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet's (s) prayer and people followed Abu Bakr's.

Some [[Sunni]] scholars have so much highlighted the importance of the Abu Bakr's leading of prayer instead of the Prophet (s) that they used it as an important proof for superiority of Abu Bakr in leading the people, i.e. [[caliphate]] and said that the Prophet (s) followed Abu Bakr in this prayer. This opinion was unacceptable even for some great Sunni scholars and made Abu l-Faraj 'Abd al-Rahman b. al-Jawzi, the great [[Hanbali]] faqih and exegete of the [[Qur'an]] (511/1117-1118 – 597/1201) write a book called ''Afat ashab al-hadith'' to reject it.

[[Shi'a]] scholars have questioned different aspects of the story of Abu Bakr's prayer in the days of the Prophet's (s) illness. They believe that although Aisha's reports are unanimous about this issue, but this report does not reach [[tawatur]] (frequency) and they cannot provide justification. On the other hand, there is a possibility that Aisha has made a use of this report for herself.

Also, as agreed by all historians and biographers, in those days, Abu Bakr had to be in Jurf camp and in the army of [[Usama b. Zayd|Usama]] by the order of the [[Prophet (s)]], not in [[Medina]]. Therefore, if he has held prayer for the people in Medina, it could not be by the order of the Prophet (s).

* A report, according to which, the Prophet (s) ordered to call [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] but it was not obeyed and instead Abu Bakr, [['Umar b. al-Khattab|'Umar]] and [['Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|'Abbas]] were called.

* The Prophet's (s) presence in the mosque with all his weakness and by the help of two people ('Ali (a) and [[Fadl b. 'Abbas]]) and praying himself.

However, according to Shi'a scholars, assuming that the authenticity of the reports about the prayer of Abu Bakr in the illness of the Prophet (s) is approved, this would not provide a reason for superiority of Abu Bakr for caliphate; because, for many times previously, the Prophet (s) had ordered other companions such as [[Abu 'Ubayda b. al-Jarrah]], [['Amr b. 'As]], [[Khalid b. Walid]], Usama b. Zayd, 'Ali (a) and even Abu Bakr in another occasion to hold the prayer with people.