The Great Battle of Badr

The Battle of Badr is also known as the Battle of Al-Furqan and the Great Battle of Badr. After the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to the enlightened city of Medina and began establishing his state, he sought to ensure a degree of stability through treaties he made with some of the tribes surrounding the city. However, this did not guarantee sufficient stability for the Muslims, both inside and outside the city. The Jews and some polytheists were living among them, and the relationship between the Quraysh (the tribe of Mecca) and the neighboring tribes was strong. Additionally, fighting was still prohibited for the Muslims, and their approach was to avoid confrontation with the polytheists.

Then, the following Quranic verse was revealed: "Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought because they were wronged, and indeed Allah is competent to give them victory." (Quran, Surah Al-Hajj, 22:39). This verse marked a change in the approach, allowing the Muslims to defend themselves against aggression, and it played a significant role in shaping the events that led to the Battle of Badr.

Then the situation shifted from a stance of restraint and avoidance of the polytheists to permission to engage in combat. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) learned of the approaching Quraysh caravan returning from Syria, led by Abu Sufyan, which was loaded with Quraysh's wealth. He decided to attack this caravan because it represented a significant economic asset for the Quraysh. The Prophet set out with about three hundred and some odd men, accompanied by seventy camels and some horses. The first horse was ridden by Zubair and the second by Al-Miqdad ibn Al-Aswad, taking into consideration that this action would be a blow to the Quraysh's economy, as the caravan was only protected by around forty men or so.

Reasons for the Battle of Badr

God Almighty has stated in the Quran, "Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you" (Quran 2:216). Generally, people dislike combat, and sometimes, warfare becomes a necessity to resolve conflicts and defend one's causes and beliefs. The Battle of Badr, like many other battles, had several reasons, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Upholding the Truth: The battle aimed to uphold the truth brought by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and to repel the falsehood that the Quraysh clung to and defended.
2. Safeguarding Muslim Trade Routes: The battle was prompted by the perceived threat to Muslim trade and the safety of the Muslim community. The caravans of the Quraysh, passing close to Medina on their way to the Levant, posed a potential danger to the Muslims.
3. Responding to Quraysh Hostility: The Muslims' frustration with the Quraysh escalated when the Prophet led a secret expedition towards the area of Nakhlah, which lay between Mecca and Ta'if. The Quraysh considered this action provocative, leading to heightened tensions.
4. Retrieving Stolen Properties: The Muslims had property and wealth that had been confiscated by the Quraysh when they were forced to leave Mecca. Retrieving these possessions was another motivation for the Battle of Badr.
5. Weakening the Economic Power of the Quraysh: By targeting the Quraysh's trade caravans, the Muslims aimed to weaken their economic influence and military capabilities.

The Battle of Badr was a pivotal moment in early Islamic history, as it marked the first major armed conflict between the Muslims and the Quraysh. The victory at Badr had significant consequences for the growth and consolidation of the Muslim community in Medina and its relations with the Quraysh in Mecca.

The Preparation of the Prophet for the Muslims

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) began with educational and psychological preparations for his companions, emphasizing that their fighting would only be in the path of Allah to keep the spirit of jihad high. He saw that attacking the caravans of the Quraysh heading to Syria was the most suitable solution for the Islamic strength in terms of numbers and equipment, ensuring a quick return to the city of Medina as these caravans passed near it.

Consultation and Organization of the Islamic Army

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) held a council of consultation with his noble companions to seek their advice on intercepting Abu Sufyan's caravan. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first to express his agreement and support for this action. Following him, Umar ibn Al-Khattab and Al-Miqdad ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with them) also affirmed their agreement. Al-Miqdad ibn Amr eloquently stated, "O Messenger of Allah, proceed as you have been commanded by Allah, and we are with you. By Allah, we will not say to you what the Children of Israel said to Moses, 'Go, you and your Lord, and fight. We are sitting right here.' Rather, go you and your Lord, and fight. We are with you, fighting alongside you. By the One who sent you with the truth, if you were to lead us to the depths of the sea, we would follow you, and not a single one of us would stay behind".

The Prophet continued seeking their opinions until Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and delivered a powerful speech, famously saying, "Are you aiming for us, O Messenger of Allah?" He then pledged full support, saying, "By the One who sent you with the truth, if you were to lead us to this sea, we would wade into it with you, and not one of us would stay behind. Proceed with the blessing of Allah".

At that moment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood up, giving glad tidings to his companions and boosting their morale. As the supreme leader of the Islamic army, he focused on preparing for the confrontation by organizing the army, sending scouts to gather intelligence, and assigning tasks to his companions as follows:

• Ibn Umm Maktum was placed in charge of Medina and given the responsibility of leading the prayer.
• Abu Lubabah ibn Abd al-Mundhir was returned to Medina and appointed as its guardian when the Prophet reached the Rawha area.
• Mus'ab ibn 'Umair was appointed as the commander of the Muslim army, with a white flag as their standard.
• The army was divided into two brigades: the Muhajireen (emigrants) and the Ansar (helpers). Ali ibn Abi Talib was entrusted with carrying the banner of the Muhajireen, while Sa'd ibn Mu'adh carried the banner of the Ansar.
• Az-Zubair ibn Al-Awwam was appointed as the commander of the right flank of the army, and Al-Miqdad as the commander of the left flank.

This careful organization and consultation among the companions contributed to the readiness and effectiveness of the Islamic army in the upcoming Battle of Badr.

The Movement of the Islamic Army

The movement of the Islamic army began with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) leading his troops along the main road leading to the sacred city of Mecca. He then veered to the right towards the area of Nazea, aiming for the waters of Badr. Before reaching Badr, in the region of Safra, the Prophet sent Subasa ibn Amr Al-Juhani and Adi ibn Abi Al-Zaghba Al-Juhani to Badr to gather information about the caravan. News reached Abu Sufyan that the Prophet of Allah had set out with his companions to intercept the caravan, so he sent Damdam ibn Amr to Mecca to urgently call upon its people for the protection of the caravan.

However, Abu Sufyan did not wait for the reinforcements from Mecca. Instead, he used his utmost cunning and strategy to evade the army of the Prophet (peace be upon him). When his caravan approached Badr, he moved ahead of it and met Majdi ibn Amr, learning from him about riders in the vicinity of Badr. Abu Sufyan hurriedly gathered some leftover camel feed from their two camels and found date pits in it, which indicated that the Prophet's army was near since they had been feeding their camels on dates from Medina. Realizing this, Abu Sufyan swiftly changed the course of his caravan, leaving Badr to his left, and the caravan escaped.

The Preparations of the Polytheists for the Expedition

The people of Mecca, upon hearing what Abu Sufyan reported to them through Damdam, quickly made preparations. They gathered and set out towards him with nearly a thousand fighters, including around six hundred wearing armor. They had seven hundred camels and a hundred horses among them, in addition to singers who sang songs to boost the morale of the polytheists. Despite Abu Sufyan's message about the safe escape of the caravan and his suggestion to return, Abu Jahl refused to retreat. He was determined to march with the army to reach Badr, where they planned to camp for three days, eating, drinking, and entertaining themselves. Their aim was for the Arab tribes to hear about their presence, in order to establish control and authority for the Quraysh and bolster their status.

The Sudden Development in Events

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) received news of the change in the caravan's route and that the Meccan army had continued its march despite the caravan's safe escape. He realized that returning to Medina would reinforce the military prestige of the Quraysh in the region and weaken the Muslims' standing. Furthermore, there was nothing preventing the polytheists from pursuing their march to Medina and launching an attack on the Muslims there. Therefore, he promptly convened an emergency military council with his companions.

He explained to them the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that they were now facing a challenge they were not fully prepared for. They had initially set out on a relatively simple mission, but they found themselves in a difficult and unexpected situation. Among the Muslims, both the Muhajireen (emigrants) and the Ansar (helpers) stood united beside the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him). He reassured them, saying, "Move forward with the blessing of Allah and rejoice, for Allah has promised me one of the two parties. By Allah, it is as if I am now looking at the place where the enemy will be defeated".

This marked a crucial moment in the preparations for the Battle of Badr, as the Prophet's unwavering confidence and leadership instilled courage and determination in his companions despite the challenging circumstances they faced.

The Muslims' Plan for the Expedition

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) initially aimed to reach the waters of Badr before the polytheists to prevent them from taking control of it. As he approached the nearest water source to Badr, he decided to camp there. The companion Hubab ibn Mundhir had received information from the Prophet that this particular campsite was designated for war, and it was not an arbitrary choice. Knowing this, Hubab suggested a well-thought-out plan to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The plan entailed the Muslim army setting up camp at the nearest water source to the polytheists. They would build a reservoir filled with water for the Muslims to drink from, while the polytheists would be denied access to it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted this strategic advice, following Hubab's counsel.

The Islamic army then camped at the site indicated by Hubab ibn Mundhir. As a precautionary measure, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh suggested building a headquarters for the leadership, with the aim of ensuring the safety of the Prophet's life in case of defeat, allowing him to return to his companions in Medina. This proposal received the approval and praise of the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him). The headquarters was constructed on a raised hill overlooking the battlefield, and Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, along with a group of Ansar youth, took responsibility for its protection.

The Descent of Rain

The Muslims spent their night filled with confidence and optimism, their hearts brimming with trust in Allah's benevolence. The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) was vigilant over his companions, organizing their ranks, reminding them of Allah and the Last Day, and supplicating to Allah, saying, "O Allah, where is what You promised me? O Allah, fulfill what You promised me. O Allah if this group of the people of Islam perishes, You will not be worshiped on the earth forever".

That night, Allah sent down a light rain that served to strengthen their hearts, purify them from the whispers of Satan, and make their feet firm. The sand cohered and melded with the rainwater, making the terrain easier to traverse. Allah describes this divine intervention, saying, "When He made the slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from Him and sent down upon you from the sky rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet".

This divine act of sending rain was a source of comfort and strength for the Muslims as they prepared for the upcoming Battle of Badr.

The Encounter of the Two Armies

On the seventeenth day of Ramadan in the second year of the Hijrah, the two armies finally met. The polytheists initiated the attack, led by Aswad ibn Abdulasad, who had sworn to drink from the Muslims' reservoir or destroy it if he couldn't. Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib confronted him and ultimately killed him, sparking the flames of battle.

Three of the best horsemen from the Quraysh, Utbah, his brother Shaybah, sons of Rabi'ah, and Al-Walid ibn Utbah, stepped forward to seek individual combat.

Three Ansar warriors faced them, but the Quraysh horsemen requested champions from their own tribe to engage in combat. The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) then sent out Ubaidah ibn al-Harith, Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, and Ali ibn Abi Talib to represent the Muslims. Some accounts suggest that it was the Prophet himself who instructed the Ansar to step back, allowing his own clan to lead the charge, ensuring that his own tribe would be the first to confront the enemy.

The combat began, and it didn't take long for the Quraysh horsemen to be defeated.

The Climax of Battle

The frustration of the polytheists escalated after losing three of their best horsemen in the initial encounters. In response, they launched a coordinated attack against the Muslims, employing a hit-and-run strategy in their fighting. This tactic involved all combatants, infantry, cavalry, and archers charging at the enemy. If the enemy held their ground, the polytheists would retreat to regroup before launching another assault. They repeated this cycle until they achieved victory or faced defeat.

The Muslims, on the other hand, fought using a completely different strategy. The Prophet (peace be upon him) organized his fighters into ranks. The front lines were armed with spears to confront the enemy's cavalry, while the remaining ranks used bows and arrows to engage the enemy from a distance. The ranks were held in position until the polytheists lost their momentum due to casualties, at which point all ranks advanced together to attack the enemy.

This new strategy allowed the Prophet to adapt to both defensive and offensive situations simultaneously, managing the strength of his army and ensuring a reserve force for emergencies. This approach contrasted with the hit-and-run strategy employed by the polytheists.

The Descent of the Angels

The Muslims continued their fight with enthusiasm and courage, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) kept encouraging and motivating them to keep fighting. Given the challenging situation, he constantly raised their morale by saying, "Advance to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth," and continued to supplicate to God and pray for the Muslims.

Eventually, God revealed to him, "When you asked for help from your Lord, He answered you: 'I am reinforcing you with a thousand angels in succession.'" God also commanded the angels, saying, "I am with you, so keep the believers firm. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Strike above their necks and strike from them every fingertip". This divine assistance came in the form of a multitude of angels, not just a single angel, as a sign to reassure the Muslims. This was mentioned by God when He said, "And God made it not but good tidings, and so that your hearts would be assured thereby" (Quran 3:126).

However, the role of the Prophet did not end with encouragement and prayers. He actively fought alongside his companions, attacking the enemy while saying, "The ranks will be broken, and they will retreat". He even took a handful of sand and threw it towards the disbelievers, causing it to reach their eyes and mouths. This action was divinely supported, as God said, "And you did not throw when you threw, but it was God who threw" (Quran 8:17).

As the battle neared its end, the ranks of the polytheists began to disintegrate, and they started retreating and fleeing. The Muslims pursued them, capturing and killing many, until they inflicted a resounding defeat on the polytheists.

Results of the Battle of Badr

Muslim Victory: The Battle of Badr concluded with a resounding victory for the Muslims and a decisive defeat for the polytheists. Allah, the Almighty, says, "Indeed, Allah has assisted you at Badr while you were weak. So fear Allah that you may be grateful" (Quran 3:123).

Booty and Spoils of War: After the battle, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stayed in Badr for three days to bury the martyrs and prevent any possible retaliatory attacks by the defeated enemy. During this time, the Muslims collected a substantial amount of war booty. Initially, there was no clear guidance on how to distribute these spoils. However, Allah later revealed the division of the booty, specifying that one-fifth of it was for Allah and His Messenger, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and travelers. The rest was distributed among the Muslim fighters after due process (Quran 8:41).

Treatment of Prisoners: Prophet Muhammad and his companions took about seventy prisoners from the defeated Quraysh, including some prominent leaders. The question of what to do with the prisoners was debated among the Muslims. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested ransoming them, while Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) recommended killing them. Ultimately, the Prophet decided to accept ransom payments for the prisoners. The ransom amount varied based on the captive's ability to pay, and if a captive could not afford it, they were often released after teaching ten Muslims how to read and write.

Martyrs and Casualties: The battle resulted in the martyrdom of fourteen Muslims: six Muhajireen (emigrants from Mecca) and eight Ansar (residents of Medina). On the side of the Quraysh, approximately seventy of their warriors were killed, including notable leaders such as Abu Jahl. Some of the slain Quraysh leaders had been known for their relentless persecution of the Muslims.

Recognition of the Companions: The Quran acknowledged the virtue of the companions who participated in the Battle of Badr, describing them as having a special status and importance. Allah declared, "There has certainly been for you a sign in the two armies that met. One party fighting for the cause of Allah, and another for disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision" (Quran 3:13).

The Battle of Badr holds immense significance in Islamic history. It marked a turning point for the early Muslim community, demonstrating that they could successfully defend themselves against a powerful enemy. Additionally, the battle helped establish the authority and leadership of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and solidified the faith and unity of the early Muslims.

Lessons and Insights from the Battle of Badr

First and foremost, it should be noted that the permission to engage in combat was not granted to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until after enduring a long period of harm from the Quraysh, including mockery, false accusations, and conspiracies to assassinate him. It became necessary to confront falsehood so that the Muslims could protect themselves from harm and spread the message of Islam. The Battle of Badr provided numerous lessons and insights, including:

• High Morale and Clear Objectives: The high morale of the army and a clear objective in combat are among the most critical factors that contribute to victory. Numbers and equipment alone cannot ensure success.
• Leadership that Listens: A leader should not force their army into battle but should engage in dialogue with them and listen to their concerns and advice.
• Value of a Leader's Life: A leader should recognize the importance of their own life to support the success of the battle.
• Divine Support: God supports His believing servants in battles, often with unseen help, such as angels or beneficial weather conditions.
• Guiding Enemies: A Muslim preacher should strive to guide their enemies to the right path and should be open to reconciliation, as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad's acceptance of ransom from the captives.

Miscellaneous Information about the Battle of Badr

Reason for Naming the Battle of Badr

The battle was named after the location where it took place. Badr is a famous well situated between Mecca and Medina. The name of the well is attributed to one of the following two reasons:

1. It was named after the clarity of its water, which made the moon (Badr in Arabic) visible in it.
2. It was named after the man who dug the well and lived around it, who was Badr bin Yakhla bin Al-Nadr.

Number of Muslims and Pagans at the Battle of Badr

The number of Muslims at the Battle of Badr was 313 men, although some sources mention around 314 or 317. It's also reported in Sahih Muslim that their number was 319. Among them, 61 were from the tribe of Aws, and 170 were from the tribe of Khazraj, with the rest being immigrants (Muhajireen). As for the pagans, their number was approximately 1000 fighters.

First Martyr from the Ansar at the Battle of Badr

It's worth noting that Haritha bin Suraqa was the first martyr on that day, despite his young age. He was from the Ansar, and his lineage traces back to Ibn Al-Harith bin 'Adi bin Malik bin 'Adi bin 'Amir bin Ghannam bin 'Adi bin Al-Najjar. His mother was Al-Rabi'ah bint Al-Nadr, and his uncle was Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him.

Bearer of the Banner for the Muslims at the Battle of Badr

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began organizing the army, he entrusted the banner to the esteemed companion Mus'ab bin 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him. Mus'ab was from the Quraysh tribe, specifically from the Banu Hashim clan, and he was among the earliest converts to Islam. He was also one of the first immigrants (Muhajireen) to Medina. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, in his book "Al-Isti'ab," stated: "There is no disagreement among historians that the banner of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on the day of Badr and the day of Uhud was held by Mus'ab bin 'Umair".