1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

46 Questions

Did Abu Bakr really lead the congregation prayer before the Prophet (pbuh) passed away? If yes, isn’t that evidence that he was the true successor?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The narrations claiming that Abu Bakr led the congregational prayers
during the illness of the Holy Prophet (SAWA) is a fabricated
narration. The narrators of it are well-known enemies of Ameerul
Mo’meneen (AS) and even in Sunni books of Ahadith and ‘Elm-al-Rijaal
they are being criticized by lying. The narrations come mainly from
Ayesha bint Abu Bakr, who led a big army (Al-Jamal battle) to fight and to kill Ameerul Mo’meneen (AS). Other narrators like ‘Orwah ibn al Zubair and his son
Hisham ibn ‘Orwah are well-known enemies of Ameerul Mo’meneen (AS).

Among the narrators is ibn Shihab al Zohri, the well-known servant of
the tyrant rulers of bani Omayyah and Abu Burdah who was appointed by
Muwaiyah and he was among those who gave false witness to kill the pious
companion Hijr bin Adai who was killed by Muwaiyah, So, going through
the narrators it is very clear that all them had a negative stand
against Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Besides the unauthentic  narrators, the context of the
narrations itself is doubtful.  If the Holy Prophet (SAWA) had really
asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayers in the Masjid, then why should he
go with his critical health supported by Al Fazl ibn Abbas and Ameerul
Mo’meneen (AS) to the Masjid and drag Abu Bakr back,as it is mentioned
in the authentic Sunni books. In fact the Holy Prophet (SAWA) never
sent Abu Bakr but he came to know that Ayesha sent a message to her
father that the Holy Prophet (SAWA) is unable to lead the prayers so
go and lead the prayers in the Masjid. When the Holy Prophet (SAWA)
came to know, he was so upset and he tolerated with difficulty walking
with support of 2 people to the Masjid and lead the prayers himself after dragging back Abu Bakr who was sent by his daughter Ayesha with out the permission of he Prophet (SAWA) and against his orders as he wanted Ali (AS) to lead the prayers.

Wassalaam.
Did Abu Bakr really lead the congregation prayer before the Prophet (pbuh) passed away? If yes, isn’t that evidence that he was the true successor?
Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is not agreed upon that he did lead a congregational prayer on behalf of the Prophet (saw) the days before his (saw) death. In fact there are instances where Abu Bakr was about to lead prayer and the Prophet (saw) despite his illness and the weak state of his (saw) body got up to lead the prayer.

For the sake of argument that he did lead a prayer, that was not put forward by Abu Bakr himself as a reason to be the successor of the Prophet (saw). The event of saqifa shows that those ghat believe in the validity of the Caliphate of Abu Bakr do so on the basis that the Prophet (saw) did appoint a successor.

May you always be successful 
Under what circumstances is not praying in congregation a sin?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Praying in congregation is highly recommended and the reward of every
Raka’at of it is multiplied by thousands of times. If you are in a
place where congregational prayers are held and your not participating
in it amounts to an insult to the Imam of the Jama’at or the
Mo’meneen, it will then be sinful not to participate in the said
congregational prayers.

There is another case, when the person does not know how to pray
individually or cannot recite the Qira’at properly, then he must join
an available congregational prayer.

Wassalam.
Can you join behind someone in congregation who is praying Asr while you wish to pray Zuhr? And can you join someone to pray your Asr who is actually leading a Zuhr congregation?
Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. According to the school of Ahl al-Bayt (as), there is no problem with praying your intended prayer in congregation in either scenario.

May you always be successful.