Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zam’ah narrates that when the illness of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) intensified, I was present in his service along with some other Muslims. Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the call to prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Tell someone to lead the prayer. I went outside and found Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) among the people, but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was not present. I said: Umar! Please get up and lead the prayer. He stood up and pronounced the opening takbir; his voice was very loud, so when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard his voice, he said: Where is Abu Bakr? Allah and the people of Islam will not accept anyone other than Abu Bakr. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a message to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), but when he arrived, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had already led that prayer. After that, Abu Bakr led the people in the remaining prayers. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: O Ibn Zam’ah! May good come to you, what have you done to me? By Allah! When you told me to lead the prayer, I thought that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself had instructed you to tell me, otherwise I would not have led the people in prayer. I said: By Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not actually give me this instruction, but when I did not see Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), I considered you the most deserving among those present to lead the prayer.