Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ جَاءَهُ بِلَالٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ قَالَ الْأَعْمَشُ رَقِيقٌ وَمَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَمَتَى يَقُومُ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أَبِي فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَوَجَدَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلَاهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ بِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيْ مَكَانَكَ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْتَمُّ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالنَّاسُ يَأْتَمُّونَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ.
English Translation
Aisha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fell ill with the illness from which he died, Bilal came to inform him about the prayer. He said: "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." We said: "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man — al-A'mash said: tender — and whenever he stands in your place, he will weep and will not be able to (lead)." So if you would order Umar. He said: "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." We repeated our request, and he said: "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Indeed, you are the companions of Yusuf (i.e., you are like the women who tried to persuade)." So we sent for Abu Bakr and he led the people in prayer. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) felt some relief and came out supported between two men, his feet dragging on the ground. When Abu Bakr sensed him, he began to step back, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) gestured to him to stay in his place. The Prophet (peace be upon him) came and sat beside Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the people were following Abu Bakr.