The Quran

وَاذكُروا إِذ أَنتُم قَليلٌ مُستَضعَفونَ فِي الأَرضِ تَخافونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النّاسُ فَآواكُم وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُم مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ لَعَلَّكُم تَشكُرونَ

Muhammad Asad

And remember the time when you were few [and] helpless on earth, fearful lest people do away with you¹ - whereupon He sheltered you, and strengthened you with His succour, and provided for you sustenance out of the good things of life, so that you might have cause to be grateful.

A reference to the weakness of the believers in the early days of Islam, before their exodus from Mecca to Medina. In its wider meaning; it is a reminder to every community of true believers, at all times, of their initial weakness and numerical insignificance and their subsequent growth in numbers and influence.