Meaning: “I was aided by terror over a month’s journey”

Question:
What is the meaning of the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): ? Is it specific to him (peace and blessings be upon him), or does it extend to him and his Ummah after him?

Answer:
The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): is to be taken at its apparent meaning, that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) casts terror into the hearts of His enemies, who are far from Him the distance of a month, such as Syria from Madinah, Iraq, and the like, and Allah aids Him against them through terror.
So when He reaches them, the terror has already taken hold of them, and that is among the causes of His victory over them, and among the causes of their abandonment, and the detachment of their hearts from resistance. And so it is with his Ummah; this is not specific to him (peace and blessings be upon him), but Allah granted it to him and to his Ummah.
So his Ummah that is upright upon his religion, patient in his religion, and upholding his Shari'ah, Allah will aid them as He aided him, and will cast terror into the hearts of their enemies over a month’s distance, as He aided His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) thereby, because this is among the special characteristics that belong to him and to his Ummah (peace and blessings be upon him). So whoever is upright upon his religion, and strives in His path seeking His pleasure and the exaltation of His word, Allah will aid him, support him, and cast terror into the hearts of his enemies over a month’s distance.