The Battle of Badr
The battle of Badr (Arabic, غزوۃ بدر), also referred to as The Day of Criterion (Arabic, یوم الفرقان ), was one of the most vital Islamic battles, fought on the 17th of Ramadan (Tuesday, March 13, 624 CE) near the present-day city of Badr, that marked a turning point for the early Muslim community (ummah) from a defensive stance towards stability and expansion. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, commanding an army of his Sahaba, defeated an army of the Quraysh led by Amr ibn Hisham, better known as Abu jahl. The conflict damaged the Meccan trade and boosted the morale of the ummah. The prestige of the battle in the Islamic consciousness is marked by the fact that it is the only battle mentioned by name in the Holy Quran.
Muhammad ﷺ and his companions settled in Medina in 622 upon invitation. Before the battle, the Muslims and the Meccans had skirmished several times, so Muhammad ﷺ decided to capture Meccan caravans, seeing it as repayment for his people. A few days before the battle، when he learnt about Meccan merchants led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb، returning from the Levant. The Messenger of Allah gathered a small expeditionary force to capture the caravan. Abu Sufyan learnt of the Muslim’s plan and rerouted towards the red sea and escaped the Muslim threat. He sent a messenger to Mecca, asking for help. Abu jahl departed Mecca with a strong army of nearly one thousand, gaining on Badr passed the valleys of Usfan, Qadid, and Juhfah. At Al-Juhfah, another messenger arrived and informed them of the safety of wealth and merchandise. The Meccan army was delighted to receive this message as they showed the desire to return home, but Abu Jahl had some other intentions as he insisted on proceeding to Badr and holding the feast to signify that they were superior. Despite all this, the Banu Zahrah (a tribe) numbering around 300 separated from the army and marched towards Mecca. Banu Hashim also attempted to break away but was threatened. Many of the Quraysh nobles joined the Meccan army their reasons varied from protecting their financial interest to avenging Hadrami, and some might have gone for an expected easy victory. To decide on a plan of action, Muhammad ﷺ held a council of war. According to some scholars, the verses of Al Anfal, Q8:5-6 were descended to allay the fear and the suspicions in the hearts of Muslims. Miqdad ibn Amr said, “O Messenger of Allah! Follow Allah’s directions, and we will follow you. We will not say to you, as the Children of Israel told Musa, “Go You and Lord and fight, and we’ll stay here,” rather we will say: “Go you and your Lord and fight; we’ll fight along with you. When the time comes for us to fight against Birk al-Ghimad’s defenders, by Allah, we will remain resolutely with you until you gain it.”
Muhammad ﷺ then praised him and supplicated for him. The Prophet ﷺ wanted the opinion of the Ansar, who were not committed to fighting beyond their territories in the Pledges of ‘Aqabah. Muhammad ﷺ then indirectly asked the Ansar to speak, which Sa’d ibn Mu’adh understood and asked for permission to speak. Muhammad ﷺ immediately permitted him to speak, and Sa’d said:[4]
“O Prophet ﷺ of Allah! We believe in you, and we bear witness to what you have brought is the Truth. We give you our firm pledge of obedience and sacrifice. We will obey you most willingly in whatever you command us, and by Allah, Who has sent you with the Truth, if you were to ask us to throw ourselves into the sea, we will do that most readily and not a man of us, will stay behind. We do not deny the idea of an encounter against the enemy. We have experience in war, and we are trustworthy in control. We hope that Allah will show you through our hands those deeds of bravery which will please your eyes. Kindly lead us to the battlefield in the Name of Allah.”[4]
Muhammad ﷺ, impressed with his loyalty and spirit of sacrifice, ordered the march towards Badr to continue.[4]
Muhammad ﷺ (PBUH) encamped his army of 313 companions at the first well encountered and blocked off and destroyed the other ones. He restricted his army to not begin an attack without his permossion. Muhammad ﷺ spent the whole night of the 16th of Ramadan praying. The Muslim soldiery enjoyed a refreshing night of sleep, this was a blessing of Allah as they were fresh and ready to fight the next day.
The battle began with Al-Aswad ibn Abdulasad Al-Makhzumi from the Banu Makhzum, swearing that he would drink water from the well of Muslims at all cost. Hazrat Hamza, Muhammad ﷺ’s uncle, stopped him and fought in a duel, and then Hamza killed Al-Aswad. Then three more pagans protected by armours emerged and fought in duels with Ali, Hamza and Ubaydah ibn Al-Harith. Ali and Hamza managed to kill their opponents, while Ubaydah ibn al-Harith was wounded, Hamza Killed Ubaydah’s opponent, and then Ali and Hamza took their wounded friend back to the Muslim lines, who later died due to a disease. Both sides showered arrows after these duels, and then this was followed by several duels, most of which were won by the Muslims. Now the pagan army took the offensive and charged the Muslim lines.
Muhammad ﷺ stretched his hands towards Qibla and kept asking Allah, “ O Allah, should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, you will no longer be worshipped”.
The Muslims carried out a counterattack against the enemy upon the order of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, then the Prophet ﷺ threw a handful of pebbles at the enemy, and the Muslims rushed toward the Qurayshi lines. Allah sent thousands of angels to strengthen the Muslim army, as the Quran stated in Chapter 8, verse 12. Muslims fought steadily and attacked the lines of the enemy. The Meccans could not resist the attack and promptly broke and ran. The battle lasted only for a few hours and was over by early afternoon. Quran also describes the Iblis taken the form of Suraqa ibn Malik fled the battlefield upon seeing the angles. The Muslims killed 70 of their soldiers, including the dignitaries, and leaders of Mecca, while fourteen companions of the Prophet ﷺ were martyred.
The prisoners were ransomed, as suggested by Abu Bakr. Around seventy prisoners were captured and were treated humanely, they were released upon the payment of ransom. Those who were literate had to teach ten persons how to read and write. And this was to count as their ransom.
The Battle of Badr played a crucial role in the spread of Islam, the morale of the Muslims increased, and people started flocking to Islam in droves.
