Setting Out

The journey started, and Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, for some time would walk ahead of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and then for some time he would walk behind him. So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) noticed that, and asked Abū Bakr, "How is it that sometimes you walk in front of me and sometimes you walk behind me?" Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "When I remember that somebody could ambush you from in front of us, I walk ahead of you, and then I remember that somebody could be pursuing us, so I walk behind you." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "O Abū Bakr, would you rather have harm happen to you or to me?" Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "O Messenger of Allah, I would rather have it happen to me and not to you."