Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became seriously ill, Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came to inform about the prayer. The Prophet said, "Tell Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to lead the prayer." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man, and whenever he stands in your place, he will not be able to make his voice heard to the people (due to intense weeping). So if you tell Umar, it would be better." The Prophet said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "You say that Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man, and if he stands in your place, he will not be able to make his voice heard to the people. So if you tell Umar, it would be better." Upon this, the Prophet said, "You women are no less than the companions of Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) began to lead the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some relief in his illness and stood up with the support of two men. The Prophet's feet were dragging on the ground as he walked in this manner and entered the mosque. When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet's movement, he began to step back, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured for him to stay. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat on the left side of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, so Abu Bakr was standing and leading the prayer, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting and following Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and the people were following Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).