[Machine] Men mentioned the time of Umar, as if they preferred Umar over Abu Bakr. Umar heard that and said, "By Allah, a night from Abu Bakr is better than the family of Umar, and a day from Abu Bakr is better than the family of Umar. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once went to the Cave, and with him was Abu Bakr. He started walking ahead for an hour, and then walked behind for an hour until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ noticed and asked, 'O Abu Bakr, why are you walking ahead and then behind?' Abu Bakr replied, 'O Messenger of Allah, I think about seeking and then I follow you. Then I think about being cautious, so I walk ahead of you.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, 'O Abu Bakr, if there was something you would prefer to have without me?' Abu Bakr said, 'Yes, by the One who sent you with the truth, I would not wish to be a leader without you.' When they arrived at the Cave, Abu Bakr said, 'Stay in your place, O Messenger of Allah, so I can search the Cave and make sure it is safe for you.' Abu Bakr entered and searched until he reached the top, but he did not search the chamber. He said, 'Stay in your place, O Messenger of Allah, so I can search the chamber.' Abu Bakr entered and searched, and then he said, 'Descend, O Messenger of Allah.' The Prophet descended, and Umar said, 'By the One who holds my soul in His hand, that night was indeed better than the family of Umar.'"

ذَكَرَ رِجَالٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ عُمَرَ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ فَضَلُّوا عُمَرَ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَلَيْلَةٌ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ آلِ عُمَرَ وَلَيَوْمٌ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ آلِ عُمَرَ لَقَدْ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِيَنْطَلِقَ إِلَى الْغَارِ وَمَعَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَعَلَ يَمْشِي سَاعَةً بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَسَاعَةً خَلْفَهُ حَتَّى فَطِنَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا لَكَ تَمْشِي سَاعَةً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ وَسَاعَةً خَلْفِي؟» فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَذَكُرُ الطَّلَبَ فَأَمْشِي خَلْفَكَ ثُمَّ أَذَكَرُ الرَّصْدَ فَأَمْشِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ فَقَالَ «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ يَكُونَ بِكَ دُونِي؟» قَالَ نَعَمْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا كَانَتْ لِتَكُونَ مِنْ مُلِمَّةٍ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ بِي دُونَكَ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الْغَارِ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَكَانَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَتَّى أَسْتَبْرِئَ لَكَ الْغَارَ فَدَخَلَ وَاسْتَبْرَأَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فِي أَعْلَاهُ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْتَبْرِئِ الْحُجْرَةَ فَقَالَ مَكَانَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَتَّى أَسْتَبْرِئَ الْحُجْرَةَ فَدَخَلَ وَاسْتَبْرَأَ ثُمَّ قَالَ انْزِلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لِتِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ آلِ عُمَرَ