There was a fight between the tribe of Banu Amr, and news of it reached the Prophet ﷺ. He prayed Dhuhr, then went out to reconcile between them. When the time for Asr prayer came, Bilal made the call to prayer, then made the iqamah, and instructed Abu Bakr to lead the prayer. Abu Bakr went forward, and the Prophet ﷺ arrived while Abu Bakr was already in the prayer. He made his way through the people until he stood behind Abu Bakr, then advanced into the row behind him.The people began clapping. Abu Bakr, when he entered the prayer, would not turn around until he had finished. But when he saw that the clapping would not stop, he turned and saw the Prophet ﷺ behind him. The Prophet ﷺ gestured to him with his hand to continue, motioning like this with his hand. Abu Bakr stood for a moment praising Allah for what the Prophet ﷺ had said, then walked backward. When the Prophet ﷺ saw this, he stepped forward and led the people in prayer.When he finished his prayer, he said, "Abu Bakr, what prevented you from continuing when I gestured to you?"Abu Bakr replied, "It is not for the son of Abu Quhafa to lead the Prophet ﷺ in prayer."Then he said to the people, "If something happens during the prayer, let the men say Subhan Allah, and let the women clap."
حدثنا أبو النعمان حدثنا حماد حدثنا أبو حازم المدني
كان قتال بين بني عمرو فبلغ ذلك النبي ﷺ فصلى الظهر ثم أتاهم يصلح بينهم فلما حضرت صلاة العصر فأذن بلال وأقام وأمر أبا بكر فتقدم وجاء النبي ﷺ وأبو بكر في الصلاة فشق الناس حتى قام خلف أبي بكر فتقدم في الصف الذي يليه قال وصفح القوم وكان أبو بكر إذا دخل في الصلاة لم يلتفت حتى يفرغ فلما رأى التصفيح لا يمسك عليه التفت فرأى النبي ﷺ خلفه فأومأ إليه النبي ﷺ بيده أن امضه وأومأ بيده هكذا ولبث أبو بكر هنية يحمد الله على قول النبي ﷺ ثم مشى القهقرى فلما رأى النبي ﷺ ذلك تقدم فصلى النبي ﷺ بالناس فلما قضى صلاته قال يا أبا بكر ما منعك إذ أومأت إليك أن لا تكون مضيت قال لم يكن لابن أبي قحافة أن يؤم النبي ﷺ وقال للقوم إذا رابكم أمر فليسبح الرجال وليصفح النساء