The Guide of the Holy Prophet (sa) during the Migration to Medina
There is a narration in Bukhari which states that on the way, many of the caravans that would pass by would recognise Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) as he would often embark on trade journeys using those routes. They would enquire who he was with and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would reply, “He shows me the way.”
هَذَا الْرَّجُلُ يَهْدِيْنِيْ الْسَّبِيْلَ
In other words, “This person guides me to the right path.” People would assume that the Holy Prophet (sa) was his guide whereas Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) meant in terms of spiritual guidance.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Hijrat al-Nabisa wa Ashabih ila al-Medina, Hadith 3911)
With regard to this, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:
“Since the profession of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was that of a businessman, he would travel this route to and fro continuously. Most people recognised him, but were not familiar with the Holy Prophet (sa). As such, they would enquire of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), ‘Who is the man ahead of you?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would respond:
هَذَا يَهْدِيْنِيْ الْسَّبِيْلَ
‘This is my guide.’ They would think that he is a guide hired by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) to direct his route, but the actual intent of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was something else.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 242)