allah is the helper and protector of the prophet (saas) and all the believers. allah always helped the prophet (saas), eased his difficulties, opened the way for him, strengthened him both physically and spiritually, and supported him with other devout believers. as for his enemies, allah clouded their understanding, reduced their strength, foiled their plots and thus, prevented them doing any harm to the prophet (saas). allah describes himself as the prophet's (saas) helper:

if you do not help him, allah did help him … (surat at-tawba: 40)

as the verse states, allah always assisted the prophet (saas). that is why no service or assistance can leave the prophet (saas) under a debt of gratitude. it is allah who helps the prophet (saas), and even if that person had not been there, allah would have used someone else, or angels or the jinn to help the prophet (saas).

in another verse, allah commanded the prophet (saas) to communicate his religion with no fear of other people, and promised that he would protect him. the verse in question reads:

o messenger! transmit what has been sent down to you from your lord. if you do not do it you will not have transmitted his message. allah will protect you from people. allah does not guide the unbelieving people. (surat al-ma'ida: 67)

those shallow and narrow-minded deniers, unable to comprehend the power of allah and the true state of affairs, thought that they would be able to overcome, frighten or disable the prophet (saas), and thus devised countless plots against him. these people were not aware that the prophet (saas) was under the protection of allah, and so could not comprehend that fact. they believed themselves to be superior to and stronger than the prophet (saas). yet, allah disrupted all their plots, and even, miraculously, turned them against themselves. none of their plots were of any good. these people, who failed to comprehend that allah saw, heard and read the secrets of their hearts when they gathered to plot against the prophet (saas), could not grasp that even if they hid from the prophet (saas) they could not hide from allah. in the qur'an, allah refers to such people in this way:

when those who disbelieved were plotting against you to imprison you or kill you or expel you: they were plotting and allah was plotting, but allah is the best of plotters. (surat al-anfal: 30)

in another verse, allah reveals to the prophet (saas) that nobody will be able to harm him, that he is his protector, and that gabriel and the devout believers, are all the prophet (saas)'s friends, helpers and supporters:

if you two [wives] would only turn to allah, for your hearts clearly deviated. .but if you support one another against him, allah is his protector and so are gabriel and every right-acting man of the believers and, furthermore, the angels too will come to his support. (surat at-tahrim: 4)

allah describes the blessings and assistance he provides for the prophet (saas):

your lord has not abandoned you nor is he displeased. the last [the hereafter] will be better for you than the first [life]. your lord will soon give to you and you will be satisfied. did he not find you orphaned and shelter you? did he not find you wandering and guide you? did he not find you impoverished and enrich you? (surat ad-duha: 3-8)

knowing that allah would help him in all matters, even in the most difficult situations, the prophet (saas) put his trust in him and never fell into despair. he told his companions that allah was with them and saw and heard all, thus inspiring them too.

those who follow the way of the prophet (saas) and take him as their model must never lose hope in allah's mercy and succour. they must know that allah is always at their side as they hope for his mercy, compassion and paradise. allah makes the following promise to the faithful in a verse:

… allah will certainly help those who help him-allah is all-strong, almighty. (surat al-hajj: 40)