When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with the illness in which he died, Abu Muawiya said, when his condition grew severe, Bilal came to call him to prayer.He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."We said, "Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man," meaning soft-hearted, "and whenever he stands in your place he weeps and cannot continue. Why not order Umar to lead the people in prayer?"He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. You are indeed like the women who surrounded Yusuf."She said, so we sent for Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt some lightness in himself, so he went out to the prayer, supported between two men, his feet dragging along the ground.When Abu Bakr sensed his presence, he started to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ gestured to him to stay in his place. He came forward, and they seated him beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet ﷺ in prayer, and the people were following Abu Bakr.
حدثنا أبو بكر بن أبي شيبة حدثنا أبو معاوية ووكيع عن الأعمش ح و حدثنا علي بن محمد حدثنا وكيع عن الأعمش عن إبراهيم عن الأسود
لما مرض رسول الله ﷺ مرضه الذي مات فيه وقال أبو معاوية لما ثقل جاء بلال يؤذنه بالصلاة فقال مروا أبا بكر فليصل بالناس قلنا يا رسول الله إن أبا بكر رجل أسيف تعني رقيق ومتى ما يقوم مقامك يبكي فلا يستطيع فلو أمرت عمر فصلى بالناس فقال مروا أبا بكر فليصل بالناس فإنكن صواحبات يوسف قالت فأرسلنا إلى أبي بكر فصلى بالناس فوجد رسول الله ﷺ من نفسه خفة فخرج إلى الصلاة يهادى بين رجلين ورجلاه تخطان في الأرض فلما أحس به أبو بكر ذهب ليتأخر فأومى إليه النبي ﷺ أن مكانك قال فجاء حتى أجلساه إلى جنب أبي بكر فكان أبو بكر يأتم بالنبي ﷺ والناس يأتمون بأبي بكر
Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Adhan, chapter on the limit of illness that permits attendance at congregational prayer, hadith 664, 712, 713, and Muslim in the Book of Prayer, chapter on the imam appointing a deputy when prevented by illness or travel or similar reasons, hadith 418, from the hadith of Amash with this wording. Others also narrated it, regarding who should lead the people in prayer.