Rafi’ Tai, who accompanied Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) during the expedition of Salasil, narrated: He says, I asked Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) about the things being said regarding his pledge of allegiance (bay’ah). So he described what the Ansar had said, what he himself had stated, and then what Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) had said in response. Sayyiduna ‘Umar also mentioned in between that I (Abu Bakr) continued to lead the prayer during the final illness of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the people pledged allegiance to me and I accepted their pledge, but I feared that perhaps such a tribulation might arise after which people would begin to apostatize from the religion.