We read in Quran:
If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed
ALLAH IS WITH US.” And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.(Quran 9:40).
Shia Objection:As for the assurance that ‘Allah is with us’, the pronoun ‘us’ was used by the Prophet for himself. The use of plural pronoun for oneself is a sign of one’s elevated status.
The Prophets of Allah are most clearest in their speech, if Prophet(saw) wanted to exclude Abubakr(ra) then he(saw) would have easily said that ‘Allah is with ME’ just like Musa(as) did. The idea that “we” refers to the Prophet(saw) alone is irrational, if the verse is read with proper understanding.
The words Prophet(Saw) said to Abu Bakr(ra), that “Allah is with US” were the words of solace, since Abu Bakr(ra) was grieving. Anyone who uses common sense would realize that the Shia argument is that, Abu Bakr(ra) was in grieve as he feared for his life, so how would these words of Prophet(Saw) comfort or assure Abu Bakr, if Prophet(saw) meant only himself? Obviously, those words were to be directed at both, inorder to assure Abu Bakr(ra) who was worried. Otherwise the words turn out to be meaningless. However the Shia in their bigotry and bias have shut the doors of wisdom and justice upon themselves.
And if the Shia agree with the Sunni understanding that, Abu Bakr(ra) was in grieve for the safety and life of Prophet(saw) and not his ownself, then this is an evidence that Abu Bakr(ra) was a true believer(momin), who preferred the safety and life of Prophet(saw) over his own self. Therefore, Prophet(saw) including Abu Bakr(ra) in his words, “Allah is with us” shouldn’t be seen as something odd by the Shia, since he was a true believer and Allah is with the believers. So Prophet(saw) used the plural form for both of them since the life of both was in danger not just one.
Note: We would also like to clarify that the words of Prophet(Saw), “Allah is WITH US” implies that Allah is with them in support. It’s not about presence of Allah nor about Allah being with them with his knowledge, because even though its incorrect belief that Allah with his self is on earth, but for argument’s sake even if we consider this belief then we realize that in this context this view is invalid, because the Allah would even be with polytheists with presence not just Prophet(saw). And as for Allah being them with knowledge, then Allah’s knowledge encompasses heaven and earth, if it was to be with knowledge then Allah with his knowledge was even with the polytheists who were in search of Prophet(saw), Allah(swt) was well aware of them. However, what is unique and appropriate in the context of Prophet(saw) using those words was that, Allah was with them in support. Allah(swt) was with Prophet(saw) and Abubakr(ra) in his support, but not with the polytheists, and this is what the words of Quran in this verse imply.