Hadith
Abu Musa reported: The Prophet ﷺ became ill, and when his condition was critical, he said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Aisha said, “He is a soft-hearted man. He will not be able to lead in your place.” The Prophet said again, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Aisha repeated her concern again, but the Prophet said, “Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Verily, you are like the companions of Joseph.” A messenger was sent to Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer during the Prophet’s lifetime.
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ مُرِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فِي حَيَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Ponder This Hadith
If Hazrat Ali held undisputed, divinely sanctioned authority after the Prophet ﷺ, why was he not appointed to lead the prayer during the Prophet’s final illness? The Prophet ﷺ personally led all five daily prayers for the Muslims throughout his life and never delegated this role without purpose. Would appointing someone else at such a decisive moment not serve as a powerful signal of authority—and would the Prophet ﷺ create such ambiguity if Ali were meant to assume leadership after him ﷺ?