Explanation of the Book of the Adhan-05a

The reciter: 'Umar ibn Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Al-A'mash narrated to us from Ibrahim from al-Aswad, saying: We were with 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and we mentioned the regularity of prayer and its great importance. She said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill with the illness from which he died, the time for prayer came, and the adhan was called. He said: He repeated it a third time, and he said: So Abu Bakr went out and led the prayer. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) felt some relief in his condition, so he came out, supported between two men. It was as if I was looking at his feet dragging from the pain. Abu Bakr wanted to step back, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him to stay in his place. Then he was brought over until he sat beside him. It was said to al-A'mash: "Was the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) praying, and Abu Bakr praying according to his prayer, and the people praying according to Abu Bakr's prayer?" He nodded his head and said, "Yes." Abu Dawud narrated it from Shu'bah from al-A'mash, part of it. And Abu Mu'awiyah added: "He sat to the left of Abu Bakr, so Abu Bakr was praying while standing."