IMAM ABUAL-FIDE ISMA?L IBN KATHiR^157
The line of authorities here is incomplete at both ends.
Abn al-Qsim al-Baghawi stated, "Dz'od b. 'Amr al-Dabbi related to us,
quoting Nzfi' b. Wmar al-Jumahi, from Ibn Abn Mulayka, that when the
Messenger of God (SAAS) left with Abii Bakr for Mt. Thawr, Abn Bakr would
first position himself ahead and then at the rear. The Prophet (SAAS) asked him
why this was and he replied, 'When I'm behind you I'm afraid you'll be attacked
from the front, and when I'm ahead of you I fear you'll be attacked from behind.'
"When they finally reached the cave on Mt. Thawr Abn Bakr said, 'Stay
where you are until I put my hand inside and examine it; if there is some creature
there it will attack me before you.'
"NafiC said, 'I have heard that there was a crevice inside the cave in which Abn
Bakr placed his foot, fearing that some creature might emerge and harm the
Messenger of God (SAAS).'"
This tradition is incomplete in its chain of authorities. But we have given
several other testimonials for it in our biography of Abii Bakr, "the Trusting",
God be pleased with hi.
Al-Bayhaqi stated, "The hafi* Abn 'Abd All& informed us, quoting Abii Bakr
Abad b. Ishaq, that Mnsa b. al-Hasan narrated that (Abbad related, quoting
'Affm b. Muslim, quoting al-Sari b. Y&a, quoting Muhammad b. Sirin, as
follows, 'Some men were talking during the period of the rule of Wmar and
apparently expressed their preference for Wmar over Abii Bakr. This reached
'Umar and he commented, "By God, a single night or a single day of Abii Bakr
would be better than the whole clan of Wmar! On the night when the Messenger
of God (SAAS) went to the cave with Abii Bakr, the latter would walk in
front for a whie, then walk behind. Eventually the Messenger of God (SAAS)
realized this and asked, 'Abn Bakr, why do you walk behind for a while, then
go and walk ahead?' He replied, '0 Messenger of God, I think of pursuit and
walk behind you, but then I think of ambush and so walk ahead of you.' The
Messenger of God (SAAS) then asked, 'You mean if something happened you'd
rather it be to you than to me?' 'Yes indeed, by Him who sent you with the
truth,' he replied.
""'When they reached the cave Abii Bakr said, 'Stay outside, 0 Messenger of
God, until I make sure the cave is safe for you.' He went inside and made sure it
was safe, but then remembered he had not checked out the crevice. So he said,
'Stay were you are, 0 Messenger of God, while I check again.' He then went
back in, made sure the crevice was safe and said, 'Come on down, 0 Messenger
of God.' And he did so."
' "'Wmar then commented, "By Him who holds my soul in His hand, that
night was better than the whole clan of Wmar!"'"
Al-Bayhaqi related this comment from Wmar through a different chain. In
that account the wording is "Abii Bakr sometimes walked ahead of the
Messenger of God (SAAS) and at others behind him, sometimes to the left and
