The Quran

Preface

إِلّا تَنصُروهُ فَقَد نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذ أَخرَجَهُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا ثانِيَ اثنَينِ إِذ هُما فِي الغارِ إِذ يَقولُ لِصاحِبِهِ لا تَحزَن إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكينَتَهُ عَلَيهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنودٍ لَم تَرَوها وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفلىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ العُليا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزيزٌ حَكيمٌ

Yusuf Ali

If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for God did indeed help him,¹ when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion;² they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for God is with us”: then God sent down His peace upon him,³ and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled⁴ to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of God is exalted to the heights: for God is Exalted in might, Wise.

The Tabuk expedition was not a failure. Though some hesitated, many more joined in. But a more striking example was when the Prophet was forced to leave Mecca and performed his famous Hijrat. His enemies plotted for his life. He had already sent his followers on to Medīna. Ali had volunteered to face his enemies in his house. His single companion was Abū Bakr. The two concealed themselves in the cave of Thawr, three miles from Mecca, for three nights, with the enemy prowling around in great numbers in fruitless search of them. “We are but two,” said Abū Bakr. “Nay,” said Muḥammad, “for God is with us.” Faith gave their minds peace, and God gave them safety. They reached Medīna, and a glorious chapter opened for Islam. The forces that helped them were not seen, but their power was irresistible. (R).
Literally, “the second of two,” which afterwards became Abū Bakr’s proud title.
Cf. 9:26.
The superlatives in the Arabic I have rendered by the periphrases, “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.