Hijrah – 622 AD – The Flight from Mecca to Medina

Sura-9 [Al Tauba medina 113]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

إِلاَّ تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللّهُ ...

9:40.  If ye help not (your Leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him:

C1302. The Tabuk expedition was not a failure. Though some hesitated, many more joined in.

But a more striking example was when the Prophet was hunted out of Makkah and performed his famous Hijrah. His enemies plotted for his life. He had already sent his followers on to Madinah. Ali had volunteered to face his enemies in his house. His single companion was Abu Bakr.

They two concealed themselves in the cave of Thaur, three miles from Makkah, for three nights, with the enemy prowling around in great numbers in fruitless search of them.

"We are but two," said Abu Bakr.

"Nay," said Muhammad, "for Allah is with us."

Faith gave their minds peace, and Allah gave them safety. They reached Madinah, and a glorious chapter opened for Islam. The forces that helped them were not seen, but their power was irresistible. (R).

... إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ...

when the unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion:

C1303. Literally, "The second of two," which afterwards became Abu Bakr's proud title.

إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ...

they two were in the cave,

...إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَنَا...

and he said to his companion,

"Have no fear, for Allah is with us":

...فَأَنزَلَ اللّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا...

then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not,

C1304. Cf. 9:26.

...وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ السُّفْلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا...

and humbled to the depths the word of the unbelievers.

But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights:

C1305. The superlatives in the Arabic I have rendered by the periphrasis, "humbled to the depths" and "exalted to the heights," as they accord better with the genius of the English language.

The enemies of Islam had boasted that they would root it out: the result showed them up as ridiculous and despicable.

...وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾  

for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.

Asad’s Version:

9: 40 If you do not succor the Apostle, then God succored him at the time when those who were bent on denying the truth drove him away, one of two: when these two were in the cave, 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 aided him with forces which you could not see, and brought utterly low the cause of those who were best on denying the truth, whereas God’s cause with your possessions and your lives: this is for your own good – if you but knew it!

[see Asad notes]