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Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 40

سورة التوبة، الآية ٤٠

9:40 Juz 10 Hizb 20 Page 193 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 9:40

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ 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 ۝٤٠

Transliteration

illā tanṣurūhu faqad naṣarahu l-lahu idh akhrajahu alladhīna kafarū thāniya ith'nayni idh humā fī l-ghāri idh yaqūlu liṣāḥibihi lā taḥzan inna l-laha maʿanā fa-anzala l-lahu sakīnatahu ʿalayhi wa-ayyadahu bijunūdin lam tarawhā wajaʿala kalimata alladhīna kafarū l-suf'lā wakalimatu l-lahi hiya l-ʿul'yā wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun

Translation

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,476 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 word477 of those who disbelieved the lowest,478 while the word of Allāh479 - that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Notes

[476] The second was his companion, Abū Bakr.
[477] i.e., their claims and slogans.
[478] i.e., degraded and dishonored.
[479] "Lā ilāha ill-Allāh" ("There is no deity except Allāh").

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 40 of Surah At-Tawbah (9:40), a Medinan surah, is in juz 10, on page 193 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.

Listen to verse 40 of Surah At-Tawbah

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Tafsir of verse 40

Al-Mukhtasar

If you O believers, do not help the Messenger (peace be upon him) and respond to his call to strive for the sake of Allah, then Allah has already helped him when you were not with him; when the idolaters drove him away from Mecca with Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq (may Allah be pleased with him), and the two of them hid in the cave of Thawr from the disbelievers who were chasing them. On that occasion, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told his companion Abū Bakr, who was scared that the idolaters would discover him, not to worry, because Allah was with them, supporting and helping them. Allah sent down His reassurance and tranquility upon the heart of His Messenger, and sent angels which they could not see to support them, making the word of the idolaters the lowest, and the word of Allah the highest by aiding His Religion. Allah is Mighty in His essence, power and force – nothing can overcome Him – and He Wise in His planning, decree and laws.

Tafsir of the whole Surah At-Tawbah

Other translations of verse 40

If you do not support the Prophet, Allah has already supported him when the disbelievers forced him out; when he was second of the two38 in the cave – saying to his companion, “Do not grieve; Allah is with us.” Thereupon Allah sent down His tranquility upon him, supported him with soldiers that you did not see39, and rendered the word of the disbelievers40 the lowest, whereas the Word of Allah41 is supreme. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

Notes

[38] The second was his companion, Abu Bakr.
[39] Angels came to the Prophet’s aid in the small cave.
[40] i.e., their claims and slogans of disbelief.
[41] i.e., "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no true deity except Allah).

If you help him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not (it does not matter), for Allâh did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of the two; when they (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) were in the cave, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his companion (Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه): "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us." Then Allâh sent down His Sakînah (calmness, tranquillity, peace) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while the Word of Allâh that became the uppermost; and Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

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.

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.

If you will not aid him, Allah certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

In case ever you do not vindicate him, (The prophet) yet Allah readily vindicated him, as the ones who disbelieved drove him out the second of two, as the two were in the cavern, as he said to his companion, "Grieve not; surely Allah is with us. "Then Allah sent down His serenity on him and aided him with hosts you did not see; and He made the word of the ones who disbelieved the basest; and the Word of Allah is that (which) is The Uppermost; and Allah is Ever-Mighty, Ever-Wise..

Verse 40 word by word

  1. إِلَّا illā If not
  2. تَنصُرُوهُ tanṣurūhu you help him ن ص ر
  3. فَقَدْ faqad certainly
  4. نَصَرَهُ naṣarahu Allah helped him ن ص ر
  5. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah helped him
  6. إِذْ idh when
  7. أَخْرَجَهُ akhrajahu drove him out خ ر ج
  8. ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
  9. كَفَرُوا۟ kafarū disbelieved ك ف ر
  10. ثَانِىَ thāniya the second ث ن ي
  11. ٱثْنَيْنِ ith'nayni (of) the two ث ن ي
  12. إِذْ idh when
  13. هُمَا humā they both
  14. فِى fī (were) in
  15. ٱلْغَارِ l-ghāri the cave غ و ر
  16. إِذْ idh when
  17. يَقُولُ yaqūlu he said ق و ل
  18. لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ liṣāḥibihi to his companion ص ح ب
  19. لَا lā (Do) not
  20. تَحْزَنْ taḥzan grieve ح ز ن
  21. إِنَّ inna indeed
  22. ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
  23. مَعَنَا maʿanā (is) with us
  24. فَأَنزَلَ fa-anzala Then Allah sent down ن ز ل
  25. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Then Allah sent down
  26. سَكِينَتَهُۥ sakīnatahu His tranquility س ك ن
  27. عَلَيْهِ ʿalayhi upon him
  28. وَأَيَّدَهُۥ wa-ayyadahu and supported him أ ي د
  29. بِجُنُودٍ bijunūdin with forces ج ن د
  30. لَّمْ lam which you did not see
  31. تَرَوْهَا tarawhā which you did not see ر أ ي
  32. وَجَعَلَ wajaʿala and made ج ع ل
  33. كَلِمَةَ kalimata (the) word ك ل م
  34. ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna (of) those who
  35. كَفَرُوا۟ kafarū disbelieved ك ف ر
  36. ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ l-suf'lā the lowest س ف ل
  37. وَكَلِمَةُ wakalimatu while (the) Word ك ل م
  38. ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (of) Allah
  39. هِىَ hiya it (is)
  40. ٱلْعُلْيَا l-ʿul'yā the highest ع ل و
  41. وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
  42. عَزِيزٌ ʿazīzun (is) All-Mighty ع ز ز
  43. حَكِيمٌ ḥakīmun All-Wise ح ك م

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4664

When there happened the disagreement between Ibn Az-Zubair and Ibn `Abbas, I said (to the latter), "(Why don't you take the oath of allegiance to him as) his father is Az-Zubair, and his mother is Asma,' and his aunt is `Aisha, and his maternal grandfather is Abu Bakr, and his grandmother is…

حِينَ وَقَعَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ قُلْتُ أَبُوهُ الزُّبَيْرُ، وَأُمُّهُ أَسْمَاءُ، وَخَالَتُهُ عَائِشَةُ، وَجَدُّهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَجَدَّتُهُ صَفِيَّةُ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لِسُفْيَانَ إِسْنَادُهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4665

There was a disagreement between them (i.e. Ibn `Abbas and Ibn Az-Zubair) so I went to Ibn `Abbas in the morning and said (to him), "Do you want to fight against Ibn Zubair and thus make lawful what Allah has made unlawful (i.e. fighting in Meccas?" Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah forbid! Allah ordained…

إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ ابْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ وَبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ مُحِلِّينَ، وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُحِلُّهُ أَبَدًا‏.‏ قَالَ قَالَ النَّاسُ بَايِعْ لاِبْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ وَأَيْنَ بِهَذَا الأَمْرِ عَنْهُ أَمَّا…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4666

We entered upon Ibn `Abbas and he said "Are you not astonished at Ibn Az-Zubair's assuming the caliphate?" I said (to myself), "I will support him and speak of his good traits as I did not do even for Abu Bakr and `Umar though they were more entitled to receive al I good than he was." I said "He…

أَلاَ تَعْجَبُونَ لاِبْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ قَامَ فِي أَمْرِهِ هَذَا فَقُلْتُ لأُحَاسِبَنَّ نَفْسِي لَهُ مَا حَاسَبْتُهَا لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَلاَ لِعُمَرَ، وَلَهُمَا كَانَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُ، وَقُلْتُ ابْنُ عَمَّةِ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2381

O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two persons, the third of whom is Allah?

When we were in the cave, I saw the feet of the polytheists as I raised my head, and I said: O Messenger of Allah, if one of them looked below his feet, he would see us. He said: "O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two persons, the third of whom is Allah?"

مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Bakr as-Siddīq + 4 other versions Explained

Verses related to verse 40

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Muhammad 47:38

    هَٰٓأَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَٰلَكُم

    Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.

  • At-Tawbah 9:120

    مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صَٰلِحٌ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

    It was not [proper] for the people of Madīnah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allāh or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allāh, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that it is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.

  • At-Tawbah 9:122

    وَمَا كَانَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا۟ كَآفَّةً فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ

    And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn [i.e., advise] their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.

The names of Allah in this verse

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