It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the illness of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) became severe, I was with a few Muslims in his service. Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) requested the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to lead the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Tell someone to lead the people in prayer. Sayyiduna Ibn Zam’ah says: I went and saw that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was not present there, but Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was present. I went and said: O Umar! Please lead the people in prayer. So Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up. Since he was a man with a loud voice, when he said the takbeer, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard his voice and said: Where is Abu Bakr? Allah and the Muslims will not accept this, Allah and the Muslims will reject this. Nevertheless, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) led that prayer. After that, a message was sent to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and later he led the people in prayers. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: Ibn Zam’ah! Woe to you, what have you done to me? When you came and told me to lead the prayer, I thought that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had commanded you to do so. If I had not thought this, I would not have led the people in prayer. Sayyiduna Ibn Zam’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not command me in this matter (that I should tell Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and not you). But when I did not see Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), I considered you the most deserving among those present to lead the prayer.