Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 10, Hadith 712

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ أَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ، إِنْ يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْقِرَاءَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ ‏"‏ إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ، مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَصَلَّى وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَخُطُّ بِرِجْلَيْهِ الأَرْضَ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ صَلِّ، فَتَأَخَّرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَقَعَدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ التَّكْبِيرَ‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ مُحَاضِرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ‏

Narrated By 'Aisha : When the Prophet, became ill in his fatal illness, Someone came to inform him about the prayer, and the Prophet told him to tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer. I said, "Abu Bakr is a soft-hearted man and if he stands for the prayer in your place, he would weep and would not be able to recite the Qur'an." The Prophet said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." I said the same as before. He (repeated the same order and) on the third or the fourth time he said, "You are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." So Abu Bakr led the prayer and meanwhile the Prophet felt better and came out with the help of two men; as if I see him just now dragging his feet on the ground. When Abu Bakr saw him, he tried to retreat but the Prophet beckoned him to carry on. Abu Bakr retreated a bit and the Prophet sat on his (left) side. Abu Bakr was repeating the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) of Allah's Apostle for the people to hear.