The Quraish of Makkah  were much worried at the ascension of the Muslim power in Madinah. As the people of Madinah could any time intercept the business caravan traffic of the disbelievers between Makkah  and Syria, the rise of the Muslim power was thought to be detrimental to their commercial interests. The Quraish accordingly decided to attack the Muslims with the intention to squeeze  them before they could get established as a strong power. In order to realize their evil and malevolent plans into reality, they led an army of more than one thousand men to Madinah to match their swords with the Muslims.  On account of the new developments, Prophet (SAW) held an advisory military meeting to review the situation and exchange viewpoints with the army leaders. He (SAW) explained the seriousness of the situation to his Companions and all those Helpers  (Ansars) from the nearby tribes who had embraced Islam as their way of life and had pledged to guard him (SAW) and  his righteous mission. Abu Bakr (RA) was the first who assured the Messenger of Allah of his obedience to his commands.

Umer (RA) was the second to support his Prophet (SAW). Then Al- Miqdad bin’ Amr stood up and said:  O Messenger of Allah!  Go you and your Lord and fight and we will fight along with you.” The Prophet (SAW) was happy on the determination, fortitude and support of his companions and particularly with the spirit of sacrifice which the Helpers  (Ansars) showed at this critical juncture who were in majority as soldiers and were expected to shoulder the brunt of the war. He (SAW) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) also conducted an investigating operation in the close vicinity of Badr where it was reported that the Polytheists had managed to locate the camp for invasion. They came across an old Bedouin nearby whom they maneuvered and handled in such a manner that he divulged a lot of information about the exact location of the polytheists. In the evening he (SAW) sent three Emigrant leaders, Ali bin Talib, Az- Zubair bin Al’Awam and Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas to gather information about the enemy. They saw two men drawing water for the Makkan army and on interrogation; they admitted they were water carriers working for Quraish. Prophet (SAW) himself talked to the boys and motivated them to reveal information about the strength of soldiers, and exact location of Quraish.  They also revealed that the pagan army was led by Abu Jahl, Shaiba bin Rabiya, Atba bin Rabiya, Ab-ul- Jatri bin Hasham etc. After collecting all information, Prophet (SAW)  on 16th of Ramzan, the 2nd  year of the migration to Madinah, he (SAW),  as the Supreme Commander led his army towards the spring of Badr  so that they could occupy it before the enemy but Hazrat bin Manzar Ansari (RA) requested Rasool-e-Rahmat (SAW) that  it would be better to occupy that  resource of water which would be close to the camp of  Pagans. He (SAW) agreed with the suggestion and accordingly ordered his army to proceed.  The same night it rained which proved as a blessing for the Muslims and a disaster for the pagans. The Muslims were camped on a better height of soil and the Pagans on the lower soil and the rain made the soil of the Muslims hard enough to tread upon because the rainy water did not stop there and fell towards the pagans which made their ground marshy and difficult to move. Hazrat Sa’d bin  Mud’ah suggested that a trellis be built for the Prophet( SAW) where he  could remain guarded and could issue directions to the army.  A squad of guards was also chosen from amongst the Helpers (Ansars) under the leadership of the Sa’d bin Mud’ah, in order to defend the Prophet (SAW) in his headquarters.  The Prophet (SAW) spent the whole night preceding the day of the battle in prayer and supplication.  Prophet (SAW) prayed “O Allah! Should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, You will no longer be worshipped.” He continued praying to his Lord and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) said: “ O Prophet    of    Allah, you have prayed out enough to your Allah,. He will surely fulfill what He has promised you.”  That night the Muslim army enjoyed a sound sleep with peaceful minds which was a mark of the Divine favour and about which Allah says in the Holy Quran, 
           “  (Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him, and He caused rain to descend on you from the sky, to clean you thereby and to remove from  you the Rijz  ( whispering, evil suggestions, etc.) of Satan, and to Strengthen your hearts, and make your feet firm thereby.” (8:  11)  

In the morning on 17th of Ramzan , the Prophet (SAW) called the believers to offer prayer and then exhorted upon them to fight in the   way of Allah. As    the sun rose over the desert, the Prophet (SAW) drew his little army of 313 against the big army of one thousand soldiers of Kufars and having an arrow in his hand, arranged the ranks.  On the other hand, Quraish positioned their forces in opposite of the Muslim lines. A few of them approached towards the wells of Badr to provoke the Believers but were all shot dead except one, Hakim bin Hizam, who later became a devoted Muslim. When the two armies approached closer and were visible to each other, Muhammad (SAW) prayed to Allah for the victory of his mission and for the defeat of the enemies of Islam.. He gave strict instructions that they should not start fighting until he ordered them. He also asked them to fight the war tactically and use arrows only on the far off enemy and never use swords until the enemy comes nearer. Abu Jahl, the iniquitous disbeliever prayed for victory and he had the arrogance that his superior men power, arms and experience would be handy for them. The first disbeliever to start the battle and its victim was Al-Aswad bin  ‘ Abdul Asad Al- Makhzumi, a ferocious idolater who  came out swearing that  he would drink from the water basin of the Muslims, otherwise destroy it or die for it. He was faced by Hazrat Hamzah bin’ Abdul Mutalib, (RA) who struck him on his leg and gave him another blow with the sword to finish him. The battle had actually begun and Utbah bin Rabi  protected by his brother Shaibah and his son Al-Waleed bin Utbah  from the army of kufar came out and hurled abuses at the Muslims. Three young men of the Helpers (Ansars)  Awf (RA), Mauooz (RA)  and Abdullah bin Rawah (RA) came out but the  pagans of Makkah  bawled arrogantly and derisively that they would  not fight with them and would like to fight with the persons of their equality or tribe. After this Prophet (SAW) sent Hamzah (RA), Abu Ubaidah(RA) and Ali ( RA) to combat  the three chosen  kufar. All the three Kufar got killed and Hazrat Ubaidah (RA) was wounded and got cut off his leg in the fight. The duel was followed by a few more duels but the pagans suffered terribly and lost their men. Due to the loss of life they got frustrated and attacked the Muslims to finish them. Prophet (SAW) prayed again for the Divine intervention so that the army of Islam would be successful.   Then he (SAW) informed Abu Bakr (RA) that,   “O Abu Bakr (RA), glade tidings are for you: Allah’s victory has approached, by Allah, I can see Gabriel (AS) on his mare in the thick of a sandstorm.”  At the instance of Gabriel (AS) He (SAW) took a handful of gravel, cast it at the enemy and said “Confusion seizes their faces!” As he (SAW) flung the dust, a violent sandstorm blew like furnace blast into the eyes of the enemies. And Allah say’s on this,
     “And you Muhammad (SAW) threw not when you did throw but Allah threw.”   (8! 17)

     He (SAW) at the same time ordered to launch a counter attack with swords on the kufars. His army got infused with promise of earning Allah’s favour and Paradise which Allah has promised for those who fight in His way. The attack of believers was so massive that it shattered the ranks of pagans who got confused and never got settled down. The Muslim army slew and captured them. And the leader of Kufars Abu Jahl did not accept the defeat till Abdullah bin Masood killed him and when his corpse was brought to Prophet (SAW), He said “ This is the Pharaoh of this nation.” 

   The Battle of Badr was destined to take place in the history of Islam but the results which it achieved had a significant impact on the entire Arab world. It will continue to be remembered as a historic moment where truth triumphed, falsehood vanished. 

(Farooq_peer@yahoomail.com and drfarooqpeer@ gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST