إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 40
Translations
If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] - Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us." And Allāh sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allāh - that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Illa tansuruh faqad nasarah Allah idh akhrajahu alladhina kafaru thani ithnayn idh huma fi al-ghaar idh yaqulu li-sahihibih la tahzan inna Allah maana fa-anzala Allah sakinatahu alayh wa-ayyidahu bi-junud lam tarawha wa-jala kalimata alladhina kafaru al-sufla wa-kalimatu Allah hiya al-ulya wa-Allah azizun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Hijrah (migration) of Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr from Mecca to Medina, when they sought refuge in the Cave of Thawr. When Abu Bakr feared their pursuers would find them, the Prophet reassured him with absolute trust in Allah's protection, saying 'Indeed, Allah is with us.' Allah responded by sending down His tranquility (sakinah) upon them and supporting them with unseen forces, while humbling the word of the disbelievers and exalting Allah's word. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a demonstration of divine providence and the ultimate triumph of truth over falsehood.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina (despite Surah At-Tawbah being Medinan) and refers to events from the Meccan period during the Prophet's Hijrah in 622 CE. It contextualizes the surah's theme of testing believers' commitment by recalling how Allah protected His Messenger when believers were few and disbelievers seemed overwhelmingly powerful.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3953) records the detailed account of the Cave of Thawr incident where Abu Bakr expressed fear and the Prophet replied with 'Grieve not, surely Allah is with us.' Also, Sahih Muslim (2381) contains the account of the Prophet's Hijrah and Allah's protection during this critical journey.
Themes
Key Lesson
In moments of fear and uncertainty, absolute reliance on Allah's wisdom and strength provides peace that transcends human understanding and rational worry. The ayah teaches believers that Allah's support is real and powerful even when invisible to us, and that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood regardless of current circumstances.