Before Abu Baker could finish the prayers the Prophet came...

Before Abu Baker could finish the prayers the Prophet came out of the house despite his sickness and the pain in his legs which he was pulling on the ground. He came to the mosque, pushed aside Abu Baker, and prayed. That the Prophet ordered Abu Baker to lead the prayers has come down from Ayesha alone. There is no other source to attest this.

She contacted the Prophet in this respect and he told her angrily: "You are like the companions of Yousuf." She proceeds in her narration and says about the Prophet's going out for the very same prayers.9 His going out in that condition for the prayers was on the day of his death-Monday.

Had the Prophet sent him to lead the prayers as an indication to his being the future caliph; then why he came out in that painful condition and performed the prayers by sitting down because of his inability to remain stood? Let us see its ramifications: "The Prophet prayed; Abu Baker followed the prayers of the Prophet; and the people followed the prayers of Abu Baker." 8- Refer to SAHEEH AL-BUKHARI 1:8 9- Refer to SAHEEH AL-BUKHARI 1:78 & 84 (in two narration); also in SAHEEH MUSLIM in chap.

ISTIKHLAF AL-IMAM from book AL-SLAAT. Then who is the leader of the prayers, i.e. the IMAM? It is confusion; the Prophet was there; Abu Baker was there; people followed two of them? One of them? It could be this as far as we can understand and if that be correct. The Prophet was in a sitting position. So, the people were not seeing him as well as not hearing him because he was sick and his voice weak.

The people made out his bowing and his prostration through the prayers of Abu Baker who remained a little apart parallel with the Prophet when the Prophet pushed him aside. The narrations are confusing and conflicting in this respect and all of them being from one source - that of Ayesha, mother of faithful.

The gist of difference runs in these six factors: (Omar for the prayers) some narration gives us to understand that the Prophet said: "Go to Omar" after Ayesha's contacting him about her father. Omar abstained and preferred to Abu Baker. Some say that the Prophet first ordered Omar; then Omar told Balal to inform the Prophet that Abu Baker was awaiting at the door. Then, the Prophet ordered Abu Baker. Some say that it was Omar who performed the prayers first.