God’s Help
We should have complete faith that God’s help will come. If God wills, He will convert unfavourable circumstances into favourable ones.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated in his book on the life of Prophet Muhammad that the Quraysh sent Nadr ibn Abi Harith and Aqaba ibn Abi Mu’it to Madinah. They met the Jewish scholars and asked them to tell them about Muhammad. The Jewish scholars said, “Ask them about the people of al-Kahf and Dhu’l-Qarnayn. If he answers your question, he is a prophet who receives revelations; if he does not, he is a false claimant to prophethood.”
They returned to Makkah and asked the Messenger of God to tell them about these things. He said, “I will give you the answer to your questions tomorrow.” The Prophet of God said this without saying “InshaAllah”. He thought that Jibreel would come tomorrow, so he would ask him and tell them. However, the revelation did not come the following day because he did not say InshaAllah. The revelation was delayed for fifteen days.
The Prophet could not answer the next day because of the absence of revelation. This was a golden opportunity for the polytheists of Makkah. They began to spread the rumour that Muhammad could not fulfil his promise. Days passed by, but there was no response from his side. The polytheists of Makkah used this situation to their advantage. They told the people that it had been proved that he was not a prophet. He would undoubtedly have answered according to his promise if he had been a prophet.
The days and nights of the Prophet were passing by in great anxiety. This situation went totally against him. However, God made it fully favourable for him. The Quraysh did so much propaganda throughout the city that it came to the knowledge of every single man in Makkah. Every man was eager to know what Muhammad had to say about it. The Makkans inadvertently created the atmosphere to listen to these questions on a large scale. Fifteen days later, when chapter Al-Kahf was revealed, and the story of the Companions of Al-Kahf and Dhu’l-Qarnayn was narrated in detail, all the people rushed to listen to it. (Al-Bidaya wan Nihaya, vol 4, p. 132-33) The preaching that used to take place in months was done in just a single day. If God wills, He will convert unfavourable circumstances into favourable ones.
