[3] Source of Tranquillity And Removal of Fear – [Allaah’s Aid For The True Believers When They Need It The Most]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ ثَانِىَ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ إِذۡ هُمَا فِى ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَڪِينَتَهُ ۥ عَلَيۡهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ ۥ بِجُنُودٍ۬ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَجَعَلَ ڪَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ ٱلسُّفۡلَىٰۗ وَڪَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلۡعُلۡيَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (the Prophet and Abu Bakr ) were in the cave, and he (the Prophet) said to his companion (Abu Bakr ): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us.” Then Allah sent down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquillity, peace, etc.) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [Surah At-Tawbah. Aayah 40]
Meaning: If you do not aid Allaah’s Messenger, Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], Allaah is not in need of you in anything nor can you harm him in the least, because certainly Allaah aided him when he had the fewest followers and was in a state of severe vulnerability, [as Allaah stated]: [إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ – when the disbelievers drove him out] from Makkah- Meaning, when they desired to kill him, made strenuous efforts and were extremely eager to do so, and thus they forced him to leave Makkah.
[ثَانِىَ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ إِذۡ هُمَا فِى ٱلۡغَارِ إِذۡ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ – the second of two (i.e. Abu Bakr), when they were in the cave, and he (the Prophet) said to his companion (Abu Bakr ): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us] – Meaning, when they fled Makkah, hid in the cave of Thawr and remained there until the search for them died down. During that critical state of affairs when their enemies dispersed – in all directions – and searching to kill them, Allaah sent His help to them, whilst that never entered their minds. The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said to Abu Bakr, whilst AbuBakr [radiyallaahu-anhu] was sad and very anxious, “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us” –Meaning, by way of His Assistance, Help and Support.
[فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَڪِينَتَهُ ۥ عَلَيۡهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ ۥ بِجُنُودٍ۬ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَجَعَلَ ڪَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ ٱلسُّفۡلَىٰۗ وَڪَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلۡعُلۡيَاۗ – Then Allah sent down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquillity, peace, etc.) upon him, and strengthened him with forces which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost]- Meaning, made them steadfast, granted them comfort and tranquillity, which made their hearts firm. And Allaah made the word of the disbelievers debased and frustrated, because indeed those who disbelieved had a strong intention and thought that they had the ability to kill the Messenger and to capture him, whilst harbouring bitterness against him and thus they did the most they could in that; however Allaah frustrated their plot and they did not fulfil their goal; rather they did not reach anything of it. Allah aided His Messenger by protecting him and this is the support mentioned in this Aayah.
Allaah’s Aid is of two types: Aiding the Muslims when they pursue their enemy, so He aids them in that which they seek and intend, and thus they overcome their enemy and are granted victory against them. The second type of Aid is for those who are oppressed, whose enemy pursues him and has strength, so Allaah protects him, and it maybe that this type of aid is more beneficial – Allaah’s Aid for His Messenger when the disbelievers expelled him.
[وَڪَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلۡعُلۡيَاۗ – while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost]- Meaning: His universal decree [i.e. that which He wills has to take place] as well as what He has ordained in religious affairs is uppermost over all others, which also includes the statement: [وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيۡنَا نَصۡرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ – and (as for) the believers it was incumbent upon Us to help (them)]. [Surah Ar-Rum. Aayah 47] [ إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَيَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلۡأَشۡهَـٰدُ – Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection)]. [Surah Ghaafir. Aayah 51] [وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ – And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors] Surah As-Saffaat. Aayah 173]
The religion ordained by Allaah has the upper hand over all other religions- through manifest proof, outstanding evidences and irresistible authority. [وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ – and Allah is All-Mighty]- Meaning, neither can anyone overcome Him nor escape Him; [حَكِيمٌ – All Wise]- Meaning, He places affairs in their rightful place and He may delay His help for His allies until a later date in accordance with His Perfect divine Wisdom.
[An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]
May Allaah include us amongst those who firmly believe in Him and the assistance He grants the true believers when they need it the most Aameen.