Desire to Protect the Holy Prophet (sa) During the Migration

Imam Bayhaqi writes that during the journey to Cave Thaur, sometimes Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would ride in front of the Holy Prophet (sa), sometimes behind him, sometimes to his right, and sometimes to his left. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked him the reason, to which he replied, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, when I feel like someone may be approaching from the front, I ride in front of you, and when I fear that someone may attack from behind, I move behind you, and sometimes I move to your right and sometimes to your left, so that you remain protected from all sides.”

(Subul al-Huda wa al-Rishad, Vol. 3, p. 240, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993)