asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’ He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ replied, ‘When I think about those who are searching for us, I move behind you, and when I think about the hidden enemies waiting to ambush, I move in front of you, so that no harm can reach you.’
The Guide to the Path of Salvation, the Master of Madīnaĥ, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then asked, ‘In case of danger, would you prefer to die before me in my place?’ He replied, ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This is my only desire.’ (Dalāil-ul-Nubūwwaĥ-lil-Bayĥaqī, Vol. 2, p. 476)
Ḥakīm-ul-Ummat, Shaykh Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān Na’īmī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated, ‘The cause of the apparent demise of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was the recurrence of the effect of poison[1]. Similarly, the passing of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was due to the recurrence of the effect of the poison of the snake which bit him in the cave of Šaūr on the night of Ĥijraĥ [migration]. Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq Al-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was blessed with such a high status of Fanā-fir-Rasūl [submerging into the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم] that even his demise is similar to the demise of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
The apparent passing of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was on a Monday and Ṣiddīq Al-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ left this world on
[1] The poison, that was given by the Jewish woman Zaīnab bint Ḥāriš on the occasion of the Battle of Khyber. (Madārij-un-Nubūwwaĥ, Vol. 2, p. 250)