سورة التّوبَة
Surah Al-Taubah 9:40
The Repentance · Verse 40 of 129
إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Abdul Mannan Omar
If you do not help him (- the Prophet), then (know) Allâh has already helped him when those who disbelieved turned him out (from Makkah with only one companion); he being the second of the two when they were both in the cave (of Thaur); and when he said to his companion (- Abû Bakr), `Grieve not (about me). Surely, Allâh is with us.´ Then Allâh sent down His Shechinah (- peace and tranquility) upon him, and helped him with troops which were not visible to you, and He humbled the word of those who disbelieved to the lowest, and it is the word of Allâh alone which is the supermost (and so prevails). Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, "Have no fear, for Allah is with us": then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
Ahmed Ali
If you do not help (the Prophet, remember) God had helped him when the infidels had forced him to leave (and he was) one of two. When both of them were in the cave, he said to his companion: "Do not grieve, for God is with us." Then God sent divine peace on him, and invisible armies for his help, and made the unbelievers´ purpose abject. Most exalted is God´s word, for God is all-mighty and all-wise.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
If you do not help him (the Messenger), yet for certain God helped him when those who disbelieve drove him out (of his home during the Hijrah), the second of the two when they were in the cave (with those in pursuit of them having reached the mouth of the cave), and he said to his companion (with utmost trust in God and no worry at all): "Do not grieve. God is surely with us." Then God sent down His gift of inner peace and reassurance on him, supported him with hosts you cannot see, and brought the word (the cause) of the unbelievers utterly low. And God’s word (His cause) is (always and inherently) supreme. God is All-Glorious with irresistible might, All-Wise.
Daryabadi
If ye succour him not, then surely Allah hath succoured him when these who disbelieved drave him: the second of the two When the twain were in a cave, and when he Said unto his companion. grieve not, verily Allah is with Us. Then Allah sent down His calm upon him and aided him with hosts whom ye saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved nethermost, and the word of Allah! that is the upper most. And Allah is Mighty, wise,
Faridul Haque
If you do not help him (Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), Allah has helped him - when he had to go forth due to the mischief of the disbelievers, just as two men * - when they were in the cave, when he was saying to his companion "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us"; then Allah caused His calm to descend upon him and helped him with armies you did not see, and disgraced the word of the disbelievers; and Allah’s Word is supreme; and Allah is the Almighty, the Wise. (* The Holy Prophet migrated only with S. Abu Bakr (who later became the first caliph) as his sole companion.)
Maulana Muhammad Ali
If you help him not, Allah certainly helped him when those who disbelieved expelled him -- he being the second of the two when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquillity on him and strengthened him with hosts which you saw not, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved. And the word of Allah, that is the uppermost. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Maulvi Sher Ali
If you help him not, then know that ALLAH helped him even when the disbelievers drove him forth while he was one of the two, when they were both in the Cave, when he said to his Companion, `Grieve not for ALLAH is with us.' Then ALLAH sent down HIS peace on him, and succoured him with hosts which you did not see, and humbled the word of those who disbelieved, and it is the word of ALLAH alone which is supreme. And ALLAH is Mighty, Wise.
Muhammad Asad
If you do not succour the Apostle, then [know that God will do so -just as] God succoured him at the time when those who were bent on denying the truth drove him away, [and he was but] one of two when these two were [hiding] in the cave, [and] the Apostle said to his companion, "Grieve not: verily, God is with us." And thereupon God bestowed upon him from on high His (gift of] inner peace, and brought utterly low the cause of those who were bent on denying the truth, whereas the cause of God remained supreme for God is almighty, wise.
Muhammad Musin Khan
If you help him (Muhammad SAW) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (Muhammad SAW and Abu Bakr radhiallahu'anhu) were in the cave, and he (SAW) said to his companion (Abu Bakr radhiallahu'anhu): "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.
Muhammad Pickthall
If ye help him not, still Allah helped him when those who disbelieve drove him forth, the second of two; when they two were in the cave, when he said unto his comrade: Grieve not. Lo! Allah is with us. Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him and supported him with hosts ye cannot see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the nethermost, while Allah's Word it was that became the uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Muhammad Sarwar
If you do not help him, (Muhammad), God has already helped him. When the unbelievers expelled him and he was one of the two people in the cave telling his friend, "Do not worry; God is with us," then God gave him confidence and supported him with an army which you did not see and He defeated the cause of the disbelievers and made His own cause stand supreme. God is Majestic and All-wise.
Muhammed ali Shakir
If you will not aid him, Allah certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Rashad Khalifa
If you fail to support him (the messenger), GOD has already supported him. Thus, when the disbelievers chased him, and he was one of two in the cave, he said to his friend, "Do not worry; GOD is with us." GOD then sent down contentment and security upon him, and supported him with invisible soldiers. He made the word of the disbelievers lowly. GOD's word reigns supreme. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
Shabbir Ahmed
If you do not help the Messenger, God will help him, as always. When the disbelievers drove him out of his home, they were just two men. They had to seek refuge in a cave. The Messenger said to his companion, “Grieve not. God is with us.” Then God sent His reassuring peace upon him, and supported him with invisible forces of faith and courage (9:26). He made the word of the disbelievers utterly low. God’s Word remains Supreme. God is Mighty, Wise.
Commentary 9:40 The verse refers to the Holy Prophets (pbuh) forced migration from Makkah to Madînah. Abû Bakr’s devotion to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was so great that the…
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَاۖ
9:40 The verse refers to the Holy Prophets (pbuh) forced migration from Makkah to Madînah. Abû Bakr’s devotion to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was so great that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) chose him to be his sole companion or, in Arabic phraseology, he (- the Holy Prophet) was the “second of the two”. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has been referred to as “the second” because in the Arabic idiom the more important member of the group is enumerated last. For instance, see 5:73, where Allâh (The Father) is referred to as being “the third” of the trinity according to the Christian doctrine.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) and Abû Bakr(rz) took refuge for three days and three nights in a cave called Thaur, difficult to access and hidden on a mountaintop three miles from Makkah. Tracing their steps, the enemy reached the place where they were hiding. “We are but two”, said Abû Bakr(rz). “No,” was the reply, “for Allâh is with us”. Abû Bakr was not so much worried about himself than for the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “If I die, it is only the question of a single life but, Allâh forbid, if you die, O Prophet of Allâh, it will be the death of Islam and of the entire Muslim community” (Zurqânî). However, faith gave his mind peace and Allâh gave them safety. They reached Madînah and a new chapter opened for Islam. This story has a parallel in the book of Exodus, when Israelites addressed Moses in anxiety, saying, “We are surely overtaken”. His reply was, “Nay speaks not thus, for my Lord is with me. He will direct me aright” (Exod. 13-14).
The verse also exhibits parallels with Jonah’s experience in the whale, and to Jesus in the tomb: they had also remained confined for three days. The verse also speaks volumes about Abû Bakr’s(rz) spiritual greatness. The pronoun us signifies that Allâh was not only with the Holy Prophet (pbuh), but with Abû Bakr(rz) as well. It was Abû Bakr(rz) whom Allâh specifically chose to be the sole companion of His beloved servant in that most critical hour of his life. The “sole companion” became one of Abû Bakr’s(rz) most honoured titles.