Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) did not come to us for three days. When the prayer was about to start. Abu Bakr (RA) stepped forward (to lead the prayer), and the Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) lifted the curtain. When the face of the Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) became visible to us, we (found) that no sight was more endearing to us than the face of the Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) as it appeared to us. The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) with the gesture of his hand directed Abu Bakr (RA) to step forward (and lead the prayer). The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) then drew the curtain, and we could not see him till he died.

Abu Musa reported: When the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) became ill and illness became serious he ordered Abu Bakr (RA) to lead the people in prayer. Upon this 'A'isha said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr (RA) is a man of tenderly feelings: when he would stand in your place (he would be so much overwhelmed -by grief that) he would not be able to lead the people in prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: You order Abu Bakr (RA) to lead the people in prayer, and added: You are like the female companions of Yusuf. So Abu Bakr (RA) led the prayer (during this period of illness) in the life of the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) .

Sahl bin Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) went to the tribe of Bani Amr bin Auf in order to bring reconciliation amongst (its members), and it was a time of prayer. The Mu'adhdhin came to Abu Bakr (RA) and said: Would you lead the prayer in case I recite takbir (tahrima, with which the prayer begins)? He (Abu Bakr) said: Yes. He (the narrator) said: He (Abu Bakr) started (leading) the prayer. The people were engaged in observing prayer when the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) happened to come there and made his way (through the people) till he stood in a row. The people began to clap (their hands), but Abu Bakr (RA) paid no heed (to it) in prayer. When the people clapped more vigorously, he (Abu Bakr) then paid heed and saw the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) there. (He was about to withdraw when) the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) signed to him to keep standing at his place. Abu Bakr (RA) lifted his hands and praised Allah for what the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) had commanded him and then Abu Bakr (RA) withdrew himself till he stood in the midst of the row and the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) stepped forward and led the prayer. When (the prayer) was over, he (the Holy Prophet) said: O Abu Bakr, what prevented you from standing (at that place) as I ordered you to do? Abu Bakr (RA) said: It does not become the son of Abu Quhafa to lead prayer before the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) . The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said (to the people) around him: What is it that I saw you clapping so vigorously? (Behold) when anything happens in prayer, say: Subhan Allah, for when you would utter it, it would attract the attention, while clapping of hands is meant for women.

This hadith is transmitted by Sahl bin Sa'd in the same way as narrated by Malik, with the exception of these words: " Abu Bakr (RA) lifted his hands and praised Allah and retraced his (steps) till he stood in a row."

Sahl bin Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) went to Bani Amr bin 'Auf in order to bring about reconciliation amongst them. The rest of the hadith is the same but with (the addition of these words): "The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) came and made his way through the rows till he came to the first row and Abu Bakr (RA) retraced his steps."

Mughira bin Shu'bah reported that he participated in the expedition of Tabuk along with the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) . The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) went out to answer the call of nature before the morning prayer, and I carried along with him a jar (full of water). When the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) came back to me (after relieving himself). I began to pour water upon his hands out of the jar and he washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times. He then tried to tuck up the sleeves of his cloak upon his forearms but since the sleeves were tight he inserted his hands in the cloak and then brought out his forearms up to the elbow below the cloak, and then wiped over his shoes and then moved on. Mughira said: I also moved along with him till he came to the people and (he found) that they had been saying their prayer under the Imamah of 'Abdul Rahman bin 'Auf. The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) could get one rak'ah out of two and said (this) last rak'ah along with the people. When Abdul Rahman bin 'Auf pronounced the salutation, the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) got up to complete the prayer. This made the Muslims terrified and most of them began to recite the glory of the Lord. When the Apostle of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) finished his prayer, he turned towards them and then said: You did well, or said with a sense of joy: You did the right thing that you said prayer at the appointed hour.

This hadith is narrated by Hamza bin Mughira by another chain of transmitters (but with the addition of these words): I made up my mind to hold Abdul Rahman bin 'Auf back, but the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: "Leave him."

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Glorification of Allah is for men and clapping of hands is meant for women (if something happens in prayer). Harmala added in his narration that Ibn Shihab told him: I saw some of the scholars glorifying Allah and making a gesture.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

This hadith is transmitted by Muhammad bin Rafi', Abu'I-Razzaq. Ma'mar, Hammam on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) with the addition of (the word) "prayer".