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

Asad …….God succourd him at the time when those who were bent on denying the truth drove him away, ….one of two [note 61]: when these two were [hiding] in the cave, [and] the Apostle said to his companion, “Grieve not: verily, God is with us. [Note 62] And thereupon God bestowed upon him from on high His [gift of] inner peace, and aided him with forces which you could not see [note 63],………whereas God’s cause remained supreme [note 64]: for God is almighty, wise.

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.

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.

Transliteration Illa_ tansuru_hu faqad nasarahulla_hu iz akhrajahul lazina kafaru_ sa_niyasnaini iz huma_ fil ga_ri iz yaqu_lu lisa_hibihi la_ tahzan innalla_ha ma'ana_, fa anzalalla_hu sakinatahu_ 'alaihi wa ayyadahu_ bi junu_dil lam tarauha_ wa ja'ala kalimatal lazina kafarus sufla_, wa kalimatulla_hi hiyal 'ulya_, walla_hu 'azizun hakim(un).

[[ Asad’s notes: 61 – Lit., “the second of two”: an allusion to the Prophet’s flight, in the company of Abu Bakr, from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 of the Christian era. ….

62 – When the Prophet and Abu Bakr left on their ‘hijrah’ to Medina, they first hid for three nights in a cave on Mount Thawr, in the vicinity of Mecca, where they were almost discovered and apprehended by the pagan Quraysh who were pursuing them (Bukhari, loc.cit).

63 – Cf. verse 26 above. ]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1302 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 Hijrat. 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. (9.40)

1303 "The second of two," which afterwards became Abu Bakr's proud title. (9.40)]]