Siddiq Al-Akbar Led The Salah [Prayer]

On page 41 of Savanih Karbala, [the 92-page publication Maktabatul- Madinah, the publishing house of Dawat-e-Islami] it is stated:

‘Bukhari and Muslim both report from Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ that the Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم was ill and the illness was affecting him strongly, so he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Order Abu Bakr to lead the Salah.’ Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی  عَنْھَاsaid, ‘Ya Rasulallah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم! He is soft-hearted; he will not be able to stand in your place to lead the Salah.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Order Abu Bakr to lead the Salah.’ She رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْھَا again offered the same concern. The Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم made the same order again with emphasis, so Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ led the Salah during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم. This Hadis is Mutawatir [mass transmitted] because it has been narrated by Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah, Ibn-e-Mas’ud, Ibn-e-‘Abbas, Ibn-e-‘Umar, ‘Abdullah Ibn-e-Zam’ah, Abu Sa’id, ‘Ali Ibn-e- Abi Talib, Hafsah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْھُم and others. The scholars say that this Hadis is clear evidence that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ is conclusively more highly ranked than all of the companions, and the most worthy and capable of Khilafah and leadership.

(Tarikhul-Khulafa, pp. 47-48)

Dear Islamic brothers! It is the sign of a true devotee that at every moment the essence of his life is the remembrance of his beloved. When those who are unaware of the taste of the love of the Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم are not able to understand the lifestyles of the devotees, they make fun of them and criticize them. Advising such people, and expressing the passion of true devotees with great feeling, a poet has said:

Na kisi kay raqs pay anz kar

Na kisi kay gham ka mazaq ura

Jisay chahay jaysay nawaz day

Yeh mizaj-e-‘ishq-e-Rasul hay

Do not object to anyone’s movement

Do not make fun of anyone’s grief

To whoever he wants, he grants his favor

This is the nature of the love of the Prophet

By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Even if a millionth of a particle of the love of the Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم possessed by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ is granted to us, we would be successful in both the worlds.