Bismillāh
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا
If you do not help him, then Allah has already helped him when the unbelievers expelled him, he being the second of the two, when the two of them were in the cave, he said to his companion ‘Do not grieve; Allah is indeed with us.
Sūrat al-Tawbah No. 9, Āyat 40
During the Hajj season, thirteen years after the first revelation, the people of Madīnah pledged their allegiance to the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa ālih at the Second Pledge of ‘Aqabah. Following this, the Muslims of Makkah began to emigrate en masse. In response, the Makkan chiefs conspired to kill the Prophet (s) outright, and their plot was set to be carried out on the night of the first of Rabī‘ al-Awwal. That night, however, at the Prophet’s own instruction, Imam ‘Alī ‘alayhis salām slept in his bed, allowing the Prophet (s) to slip away unnoticed.
Rather than taking the direct northern route toward Madīnah, the Prophet and his companion Abū Bakr headed south first, seeking refuge in a cave on Mount Thawr. There they remained hidden for three days, while a search party from the Quraysh scoured the surrounding hills and, at one point, came so close as to stand at the very mouth of the cave.
It is about this time that the verse above is referring to, telling the believers many years later during the Expedition of Tabūk, that if they do not help the Prophet (s), then his mission will not be affected. Allah will help him as he helped him in the past, at a time when he had no one to support or defend him, when his enemies had united against him, forcing him to leave Makkah. The verse goes on to expound on this divine help, saying that Allah sent down His tranquility upon the Prophet (s) and supported him with unseen armies.
Divine Help During the Hijrah
One example of this divine help is found in an incident narrated by both Sunnīs and Shī‘ah. The Shī‘ah account, as narrated from Imam al-Sādiq (a), says:
When the Messenger of Allah (s) left the cave heading for Madīnah, while the Quraysh had set a reward of one hundred camels for anyone who captured him, Surāqah ibn Mālik ibn Ju‘shum set out among those seeking him and caught up with the Messenger of Allah (s). The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “O Allah, suffice me against the evil of Surāqah by whatever means You will.” Immediately, the legs of his horse sank into the ground. Surāqah threw himself off, then mounted again and pressed on. He said: “O Muhammad, I know that what happened to my horse’s legs is from your doing. So, pray to Allah to release my horse. For by my life, if no good comes to you from me, no evil will come to you from me either.” The Messenger of Allah (s) prayed, and Allah (swt) released his horse. But Surāqah returned to pursue the Messenger of Allah (s), and this happened three times, each time the Messenger of Allah would pray, and the earth would swallow the legs of his horse. When it was released the third time, Surāqah said: “O Muhammad, here are my camels before you, with my servant among them. If you need a mount or milk, take from them. And here is an arrow from my quiver as a token. I will go back and turn the pursuers away from you.” The Prophet (s) said: “We have no need of what you have.” (al-Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, v. 8, p. 263)
Points to Ponder
This verse reminds Muslims that the religion of Allah will always be victorious, despite all efforts of the enemies to the contrary. It is God himself who will protect His religion and aid the mission of the Prophet (s). As Allah says in another verse:
يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His light though the unbelievers may be averse. (Q 61:8)
Another point to remember is that the forces of the enemies, despite all the means that they may have, are no match for believers who are strengthened with tranquility and the help of unseen forces. We pray that Allah blesses us to benefit from such divine assistance in the path of serving Islam.
Source: ‘Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān.