The hadith “God and His Messenger refuse anyone but Abu Bakr” is among the most important narrations cited by some Sunni scholars to prove Abu Bakr’s superiority and rightful claim to immediate succession after the Prophet (PBUH). Often narrated alongside the incident of Abu Bakr leading prayers during the Prophet’s illness, proponents view it as evidence of divine approval and consensus of believers on his caliphate, considering it a form of explicit or implicit designation for his leadership. This study employs an analytical-critical method to examine various aspects of this hadith. Findings indicate serious challenges to its authenticity in terms of chain of transmission and text. Furthermore, its implication for supreme leadership is refuted on theological and jurisprudential grounds—showing no necessary correlation between leading congregational prayer and supreme Imamate—as well as historical evidence such as the Prophet’s command for Usama’s army and the absence of reference to this text at Saqifah. Ultimately, the study concludes that this hadith is a distorted version of the incident of the Prophet’s request for pen and paper, fabricated to establish Abu Bakr’s caliphate against the explicit designation of Amir al-Mu’minin (AS).