22 - ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us, saying: I read to my father: Wakīʿ narrated to us, from Nāfiʿ ibn ʿUmar, from Ibn Abī Mulayka, who said:

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, emigrated, he set out accompanied by Abū Bakr, and they took the road to Thawr. Abū Bakr kept walking alternately behind him and ahead of him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked him, “Why are you doing this?”

He replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I fear that you may be attacked from behind, so I fall back; and I fear that you may be attacked from ahead, so I go forward.”

When they reached the cave, Abū Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, stay where you are until I sweep it out.”

Nāfiʿ said: A man narrated to me, from Ibn Abī Mulayka, that Abū Bakr saw a hole in the cave and plugged it with his foot, saying, “O Messenger of Allah, if there is a sting or a bite, let it be me who suffers it.”