وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كُنَّا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ كُلَّ ثَلَاثَةٍ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ، فَكَانَ أَبُو لُبَابَةَ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ زَمِيلَي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ. قَالَ: فَكَانَتْ إِذَا جَاءَتْ عُقْبَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَا: نَحْنُ نَمْشِي عَنْكَ، قَالَ: «مَا أَنْتُمَا بِأَقْوَى مِنِّي، وَمَا أَنَا بِأَغْنَى عَنِ الْأَجْرِ مِنْكُمَا». (Reported in Sharh al-Sunnah)
Translation: ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿud related that during Badr, three people shared a camel. Abu Lubabah and ʿAli were the Prophet’s ﷺ partners in taking turns. When his turn came, they offered to walk in his place. He replied: “You two are not stronger than I am, and I am no less in need of reward than you.”
Mounts were scarce and the journey was difficult. The Prophet ﷺ did not transfer his share of the burden to his companions. Their offer was respectful, but he chose to share the hardship with them.