Status of Hazrat Abu Bakr

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ فَقَالَ ‏”‏مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ”‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ، إِذَا قَامَ مَقَامَكَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ‏”‏ فَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ ‏”‏مُرِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ، فَإِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ‏”‏‏.‏ فَأَتَاهُ الرَّسُولُ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فِي حَيَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم.‏

Hazrat Abu Musa^ra reported, “When the Prophet^sa was taken ill and his condition grew severe, he enjoined, ‘Instruct Abu Bakr to lead the prayers.’ Hazrat Aisha^ra remarked, ‘He is a man of tender heart, and should he stand in your stead, he would be unable to lead the congregation.’ The Prophet^sa insisted, ‘Instruct Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.’ She repeated her concern, but he affirmed, ‘Bid Abu Bakr to conduct the prayers. Verily, you are akin to the companions of Joseph.’ Consequently, the messenger conveyed the command to Abu Bakr^ra who then led the congregation in prayer during the Prophet’s^sa lifetime.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-azan, Bab Bab Ahlu l-‘ilmi wa l-fadli ahaqqu bi l-imamah, Hadith 678)