As for being safe from the schemes of plotters, the envy of the envious, and the attacks of detractors, there is no escape from it except by dying in faith, if Allah Most High wills. How well it has been said:

I cannot escape the words of a detractor,
Even were I in a cave upon a rugged mountain.
And who can remain unharmed by people,
Even if he hid beneath an eagle’s wings? *

The Reason for Prohibiting a Man from Travelling Alone

3134 — “A man departed from Khaybar, and two men followed him, while another came behind them, saying, ‘Go back! Go back!’ until he made them return. He then caught up with the first man and said:

‘These two are devils. I kept after them until I made them go back. When you reach the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, convey my greetings to him, and tell him that we are here collecting our charitable dues. Were they permissible for him, we would have sent them to him.’

When the man arrived in Medina, he informed the Prophet ﷺ. It was then that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited being alone.”

It was narrated by al-Hakim (2/102) and Ahmad (1/278 and 299) through several routes from Ubayd Allah ibn Amr al-Raqqi, from Abd al-Karim, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas, who said … and then mentioned it. Al-Hakim said:

“Its chain of transmission is authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari.”

Al-Dhahabi agreed with him, and al-Hafiz strengthened it in al-Fath (6/345) by making no adverse comment on it. He explained “being alone” as follows:

“That is, travelling alone,” as indicated by the context. *