Allah said in the Qur’an: “But Allah would never punish them while you O Prophet were in their midst” (The Qur’an 8:33). This is a principle that Allah has described that He would not punish a nation till His prophet stayed among them. So, the presence of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, in Makkah was a blessing in disguise for its inhabitants, although the way they treated the Prophet and his companions was such a huge crime that divine punishment was justified. The Prophet was the cause of this blessing.
“…Allah would not have kept you from fighting the disbelievers, had there not been believing men and women (among them) whom you did not know and whom you might have unknowingly harmed. Allah did this because He grants mercy to whomever He wants. Had they been distinguishable from the believers, We would certainly have punished them with a painful torment” (The Qur’an 48:25).
There was a time when Allah would have punished severely the disbelievers of Makkah who had forced the Prophet and his companions to migrate from that city. Allah deferred the punishment because there were some believers in that place who could not migrate. Hence, the presence of these believers in Makkah became a respite for all Makkans, despite their crime of unjustified eviction of the Prophet and his companions from that city. Allah has summed up all such blessings in one verse, “We have sent you, O Prophet, only as a mercy for the whole world” (The Qur’an 21:107).
The blessings bestowed upon the Prophet is so complete and important that Allah Himself sends him blessings that is followed by the blessings of the angels. Thereafter Allah commanded all His servants, the believers, to send blessings to and salute him. “O ye that believe! Send blessings on him, and salute him with all respect” (The Qur’an 33:56).
Some commentators of the Qur’an have assigned meanings of some of separate letters (huruf al muqatta’at) at the beginning of some Surahs. They have described meaning of such groups of letters at the start of Surah 19, Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Saad, as under:
Kaf referring to suffice (kifaya) as in the verse,“(O Prophet), does Allah not suffice for His servant” (The Qur’an 39:36)?
Ha referring to guide (hidaya) as in the verse,“So that Allah may …. guide you to a straight path” (The Qur’an 48:2).
Ya referring to support (ta’yid) as in the verse,“He will support you with His help” (The Qur’an 8:26).
Ayn referring to protection (‘isma) as in the verse,“Allah would protect you from people” (The Qur’an 5:67).
Saad referring to blessings(salat) as in the verse,“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet” (The Qur’an 33:56).
The protection provided to the Prophet is so much complete and encompassing that he was beyond any harm inflicted by any person or persons. Allah says, in a particular background:“…if you support one another against the Prophet then surely Allah is his Protector; and after that Jibril and all believers and the angels are all his supporters.” [The Qur’an 66:4]