Chapter

The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

كتاب الإمامة

Arabic Text

أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَهَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتِ الأَنْصَارُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ ‏.‏ فَأَتَاهُمْ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَأَيُّكُمْ تَطِيبُ نَفْسُهُ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَالُوا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ نَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ‏.‏

English Translation

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said:

"When the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) passed away, the Ansar said: 'Let there be an Amir from among us and an Amir from among you.' Then 'Umar came to them and said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer? Who mong you could accept to put himself ahead of Abu Bakr?' They said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from putting ourselves ahead of Abu Bakr."'