[Section: One indication of Abū Bakr’s merit in the cave is that Allah Most High mentions His aid to His Messenger in this situation]

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Among the Quranic indications of Abū Bakr’s merit in the cave is that Allah Most High mentions His aid to His Messenger in this situation (1), in which people generally are left without support, except those aided (2) by Allah:

“When those who disbelieved drove him out as one of two, when they were in the cave.” [Surah al-Tawbah: 40]

That is, they drove him out with so few companions that only one person accompanied him. One is the smallest possible number; thus, having only one companion shows that his company was as small as it could be.

Then He said:

“When he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.’” [Surah al-Tawbah: 40]

This indicates that his companion was concerned for him, loved him, and supported him, as shown by his grief. In times of fear, a person grieves only for someone he loves. As for his enemy, he does not grieve when circumstances arise that could bring about that enemy’s destruction.

Had Abū Bakr harbored hatred (3), as the fabricators claim, he would not have grieved or been told not to grieve. Rather, he would have inwardly felt joy and delight, and the Messenger would not have said to him:

“Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.”

If the fabricator says: “His state remained hidden from the Messenger because he displayed grief before him, while inwardly harboring hatred.”