The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 720
CH. 9 AT-TAUBAH 41. Go forth, light and heavy, and "strive with your property PT. 10 jéé þö بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ and your persons in the cause of ذلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ only you knew. 1200 Allah. That is better for you, if "8:75; 9:88, 111; 61:12. two" literally mean "the second of the two" and refer to the Holy Prophet and Abū Bakr. The Holy Prophet has been referred to as "the second" because in the Quranic idiom the more important member of the group is referred to as being the last part, i. e. the final figure. For instance see 5:74 where God is referred to as being "the Third of the Trinity" according to the Christian doctrine. for my life, because if I die, it is only the question of a single life. But if you die, O Prophet of God, it will be the death of Islam and of the entire Muslim community" (Zurqānī). The pronoun in the clause, Allah sent down His peace on him, stands for Abu Bakr and not the Holy Prophet, for the Holy Prophet had all along enjoyed peace. The succeeding pronoun in the clause, strengthened him with hosts, refers to the Holy Prophet. This divergence in the use of similar pronouns is permissible in Arabic, being known as, šlavó vlúžil (see 2:75; 48:10). The words, and (God) humbled the word of those who disbelieved, mean that God frustrated the designs of the disbelievers and they failed accomplish what they desired. See also 8:31. to The verse sheds important light on the high spiritual status of Abū Bakr, who accompanied the Holy Prophet in his flight from Mecca and was thus one of "the two" referred to in the verse. It is worthy of note that when at a time of danger, the Israelites anxiously addressed Moses, saying, We are surely overtaken, he replied, nay speak not thus for my Lord is with me. He will direct me aright (26:62, 63). In a similar situation, however, the Holy Prophet, when Abū Bakr expressed anxiety, calmly said: Grieve not, for Allah is with us. This speaks volumes for Abū Bakr's spiritual greatness, for the pronoun "us" signifies that God was not only with the Holy Prophet but with Abū Bakr as well. Again, it is on record that, while in the cave, Abu Bakr began to weep, and when asked by the Holy Prophet why he was Muslims are here commanded to weeping he replied, "I do not weep march forth in the way of God, The verse also hints that even if none else had accompanied the Holy Prophet in the hazardous expedition to Tabük, Abu Bakr would certainly have done so, just as he did on the occasion of his flight from Mecca. The verse thus provides a great testimonial to the strength and sincerity of Abu Bakr's faith. 1200. Commentary: 1160