That is what Abu Huraira reported to us from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he narrated (some) ahadith one of which is that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies) and I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning.
The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - Sahih Muslim 523 f
This narration from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) contains profound wisdom regarding the special favors bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by Allah Almighty.
Commentary on Divine Assistance Through Terror
The phrase "I have been helped by terror" refers to the supernatural fear that Allah casts into the hearts of enemies at a distance of one month's journey, preventing them from attacking the Muslims. This divine protection occurred even before military engagement, demonstrating Allah's direct support for His Messenger and the Muslim community.
This terror is not merely psychological but a miraculous intervention that safeguarded the early Muslim community when they were most vulnerable, establishing that victory comes from Allah alone.
Exposition of Concise Yet Comprehensive Speech
The "words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning" (Jawami' al-Kalim) represents the miraculous nature of the Quran and the Prophet's speech. Despite their brevity, these expressions contain vast oceans of meaning, guidance, and legal rulings.
This quality manifests the ultimate eloquence where maximum meaning is conveyed with minimum words - a characteristic unique to divine revelation and prophetic speech. The entire Shariah, with all its principles and details, is contained within these comprehensive expressions.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars note that these two blessings complement each other: the terror protects the external aspects of the religion, while the comprehensive speech preserves its internal essence and teachings.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that Jawami' al-Kalim represents the peak of Arabic eloquence and demonstrates the superiority of Islamic teachings, which combine profound wisdom with accessibility to all people.