the mother of the faithful believers: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in his last illness said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "If Abu Bakr stood in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him owing to his weeping. So please order `Umar to lead the prayer." He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said to Hafsa, "Say to him, 'Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stood in your place he would not be able to make the people hear him owing to his weeping. So order `Umar to lead the people in the prayer.' " Hafsa did so but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Keep quiet. Verily you are the companions of (Prophet) Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Hafsa said to me, "I never got any good from you."
Exposition of the Hadith
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 716) reveals profound wisdom during the Prophet's final illness. The instruction for Abu Bakr to lead prayers demonstrates his divinely appointed succession, as prayer leadership (imamah) signifies spiritual and communal authority in Islam.
Scholarly Commentary
The Prophet's insistence despite Aisha's valid concern about Abu Bakr's emotional state shows that religious obligations must be fulfilled regardless of personal emotions. The comparison to "companions of Joseph" indicates that like Joseph's brothers who plotted against him, their suggestions, though well-intentioned, contradicted divine wisdom.
Abu Bakr's weeping demonstrates his profound love for the Prophet, yet his capability to lead the ummah remained unquestioned. This hadith establishes that personal emotions cannot override religious duties and appointments.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This incident became a foundational proof for Abu Bakr's rightful succession as the first Caliph. The repetition of the command emphasizes its crucial importance and eliminates any doubt about the matter.
The exchange between Aisha and Hafsa illustrates how even the Prophet's household members could err in judgment regarding matters of public interest, highlighting the necessity of following prophetic guidance over personal opinions.