IN THE MOST DANGEROUS INSTANCE, GOD LEFT NOT HIS PROPHET ALONE.

(VERSE NO. 40)

      This refers to the famous incident of HIJRAT, a detail of which we have given in pages; 468. (Volume .2) The enemies plotted for the prophet's life, when he had already sent his followers to ABYSSINIA and MEDINA. Hazrat Imam Ali (A.S.)volunteered to face the enemies in the prophet's house and on his bed. His only companion was ABU-BAKR, when the two concealed themselves in the cave of Sour, in opposite of the road to Medina for three nights, while the enemy was in search of him around, and in great number. Meanwhile fear and grief seized ABU-BAKR, who said to the prophet: `We are only two here, and if they discover us ....? The prophet consoled him saying: Don't worry! Allah is with us'' (we are three and not two) Then Allah sent His tranquility and comfort upon His apostle and aided him with hosts that could not be seen by eyes of people, such as the angels, by which the unbelievers were abased and abjected, and the word of God and His religion was exalted to the upper-most.

The phrase, `THE SECOND OF THE TWO' has been used as a grand title and proud nick name by ABU-BAKR'S followers. FAKHR- RAZI the famous Sonni commantator, exaggerating the matter, has created 12 virtues for ABU-BAKR out of the title, none of which has a reasonable base! Even he has tried to ascribe the clause, `Allah sent His tranquility and the hosts that man cannot see them,' to ABU-BAKR, while he who knows the ABC of Arabic grammer knows that here in this verse, the pronoun, `him' in, `sent on him' refers to the prophet, and not to his fellow- traveller or companion.

      On contrary, the verse proves some weak point for the prophet's companion, that in spite of being with the prophet of God, he was still afraid and grieved, so much so that the prophet had to console him and give him comfort by telling him grieve not because we are not alone, and God is here with us.