“The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) lost consciousness in his illness, then he regained consciousness and said: ‘Has the ritual prayer arrived?’ They said: ‘Yes,’ so he said: ‘Command Bilal to give the call to prayer, and command Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’
Then he lost consciousness, and when he recovered, he said: ‘Has the ritual prayer arrived?’ They said: ‘Yes,’ so he said: ‘Command Bilal to give the call to prayer, and command Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.’ …
Aishah then said: ‘My father is a melancholy man. If he is given that responsibility, he will weep and lose command of himself. SO if only you would appoint someone else!’
He said: ‘Then he lost consciousness and recovered, so he said: ‘Command Bilal to give the call to prayer, and command Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, for you are the female companions of Yusuf!’
Bilal was therefore commanded, so he gave the call to prayer, and Abu Bakr was commanded, so he led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) felt light in the head, so he said: ‘Find me someone I can lean on!’ Barira and another man therefore came to him, so he leaned on them. When Abu Bakr saw him, the man was about to withdraw, but he signaled for him to stay in his place until Abu Bakr completed his ritual prayer.
Then the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) died (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), so Umar said: ‘If I hear anyone mention that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has died, I will strike him with this sword of mine!’’
He said: ‘The people were unlettered folk among whom there had never come a prophet before, so they held their tongues.
But then they said: ‘O Salim, go to the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and summon him.’ So I went to see Abu Bakr, in the mosque. I came to him weeping and perplexed, so when he saw me, he said: ‘Has the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) died (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)?’
I replied: Umar says: ‘If anyone mentions that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has died, I will strike him with this sword of mine!’ He then said to me: ‘Go outside,’ so I went outside with him. Then he came and found the people in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
‘He therefore said: ‘O people, get out of my way,’ so they got out of his way.
Then he leaned over him and touched him, saying: ‘You will surely die, and they will surely die.’.’’ (Al-Qur’an.9:4O). Who are the two of them?” Then he extended his hand, so they pledged allegiance to him, and the people paid him a beautiful homage.