IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

SAQIB KHAN 02-111221-307

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY KARACHI CAMPUS

BATTLE OF BADR
BY SIR AHSAN UL HAQ
 Important information:
Location of the battle: Badr, near Madinah province

Outcome: Muslim army, led by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), emerged victorious

Fought between: The Prophet’s Sahaba and the Quraysh army

Led by: Quraish army was led by Abu Jahl, while Muslims fought under the leadership
of Prophet Muhammad

Strength: Nearly 313 Muslims fought 1000 warriors of the Quraish army

Casualties: 14 Muslims were martyred, while nearly 70 warriors of the opposition were
killed.

Introduction:

The Battle of Badr is an iconic battle occurred in the small town of Badr located in the Madinah
Province. It is Known to be one of the most important battles in Islamic history, the Battle of
Badr marked a major turning point for Muslims. Led by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the
Muslim community fought this battle against an army of the Quraysh that was led by Abu Jahl
near Badr, Madinah province. This battle also saw the killing of important Qurayshi leaders,
including Umayyah ibn Khalaf and Abu Jahl, at the hands of Muslims. According to popular
beliefs, the victory of Muslims in this battle paved way for the strengthening of Prophet
Muhammad’s position. Totally a decisive clash in Islamic history, the victory was attributed to
divine intervention coupled with the strategic skills and valour of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Well-known as the first major skirmish between the Qurayshite Mecca and Muslims.

Background:
Life in Makkah was becoming difficult for the Muslims. The growing oppression and
tortures of the disbelievers of Makkah (Kuffar e Makkah) became unbearable. The
Muslims were prevented from worshiping Allah. Consequently, Allah, the Exalted,
revealed orders to migrate. The Prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions secretly planned
to escape the watchful disbelievers, who intended to kill the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his
companions in their own homeland and thus bring an end to the religion of Islam. But
Allah, the Exalted, aided His Messenger (S.A.W.) to immigrate to Medinah. This
carefully planned and prudent escape of Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) and his
companions (Sahabah) created great anxiety and rancor in the hearts of the
disbelievers.

The new abode of Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.), Medinah, integrated the commercial
routes to Makkah. The trade caravans of the disbelievers passing near Medianh now
faced serious danger. The disbelievers had already experienced the love and devotion
of Prophet’s companions (Sahabah) for Allah and His Messenger (S.A.W.). They knew
that the companions (Sahabah) were always ready to sacrifice everything they had for
the Prophet (S.A.W.). Thus, in order to safeguard their trade, the disbelievers undertook
all possible efforts to expel the Muslims from Medinah.

They sent a serious ultimatum to the chief of the disbelievers in Medinah, Abdullah Ibn
Ubai Ibn Sahul, ordering him to fight or drive out the Prophet (S.A.W.) from Medinah.
Otherwise, they would attack their city and destroy their people. However, Prophet
(S.A.W.) cautioned Abdullah and his men from taking any cruel steps against the
Muslims and as a result of his cowardice, Abdullah withheld his devilish plan. The
disbelievers of Makkah also sent a note to the Ansaar [(the Muslims of Medinah who
aided Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.)] threatening to put them to death if they helped the
Prophet (S.A.W.) or defended him. But the Ansaar loved Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.)
more than their lives and therefore paid no heed to the threats.

Permission to Fight the Kuffar (disbelievers of Makkah):

For 10 years, while in Makkah, the Muslims were prohibited to openly fight the
disbelievers because they were greater in number and the Muslims were very few.
Were the Muslims to fight the disbelievers in Makkah, the results would have been
disastrous. But when the disbelievers went to extremes in their transgression that they
forced Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) and his companions to leave the most sacred place,
resolved to kill the Prophet and sent threats to the Muslims in Medinah; Allah revealed
verses of the Quran giving permission to the Muslims to fight the disbelievers. Now the
Muslims had the support of the Ansaar, they had a place where Islam prevailed and
where they could retreat. It was an appropriate time for Jihad.
"Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against those disbelievers), who are
fighting them, (and) because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely Allah is
Able to give them (believers) victory." (Surah Hajj 22:39)

Battle of Badr Story

Renowned as a major military victory, the Battle of Badr was fought on 13 March, 624
CE, which was also the pious month of Ramadan. In 622, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
and his companions escaped from the city of Makkah and settled in Madinah.
Approximately two years after this event of Hijrah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
organised a raid against a wealthy caravan, which was led by Abu Sufyan – the head of
the Umayyad dynasty. The raiding party, which comprised of nearly 300 supporters of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), lured the opposing Meccans into a battle at Badr, near
Madinah. When both the armies charged at each other for a full battle, Muhammad took
a handful of dust and blew it into the air. This took the form of a massive whirlwind,
thereby dispersing Abu Jahl’s army. It is also said that when Prophet Muhammad’s
army was proceeding towards the Meccans, he stretched his hands towards the Qibla
and kept repeating, “O Allah! Should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, You will
no longer be worshipped.”
The prayer was answered as the same has been mentioned in the Quran. “Indeed, I will
reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, rank after rank.” Quran 8:9

Therefore, in spite of a large number of forces in Abu Sufyan’s camp, the Prophet’s
army was not only victorious but also managed to kill some vital figures of the
opposition.

Abu Sufyan wasn’t ready for this battle: This too is not a much-known fact that the
battle was forced upon Quraish by Abu Jahl. According to Islamic history, Abu Sufyan
had sent the message of him being safe but as his earlier message of asking for help in
getting the caravan rescued had reached Abu Jahl, the latter prepared an army of
nearly 1300 warriors for the same. Even, Abu Sufyan’s message of reaching Makkah
safely didn’t stop Abu Jahl and instead, he incited the warriors to wage a war against
Prophet Muhammad.

Facts about battle of badr:

Muslims were outnumbered by the Quraishi army: Prophet Muhammad’s army

comprised of merely 313 Muslims. On the other hand, the Quraishi army had nearly
1000 well-equipped soldiers to take on the opposition.

Also known as Battle of Separation: The famous Battle of Badr is known for
separating truth from falsehood, and hence the name ‘Battle of Separation’. This
famous battle also reinforced the fact that Allah is the supreme power and is invincible.

Angels also helped the Prophet’s army: It is said that on the decree of Allah, 5000
angels descended from heaven to help the Prophet’s army against the Quraysh in the
Battle of Badr. This act is seen as divine intervention amongst the followers of
Islam. “Well, if you are steadfast and mindful of Allah, your Lord will reinforce you with
five thousand swooping angels if the enemy should suddenly attack you!” (Quran,
3:125)

8. Treatment of captives post victory: After emerging victorious in the Battle of Badr,
the Prophet’s army captured many warriors from the Quraish army and held them as
prisoners. They were required to work in accordance with the possessed skills.

9. Casualties in the war: In the Battle of Badr, nearly 14 warriors from the Prophet’s
camp were martyred, while the Quraysh army lost 70 of its most important warriors,
including Abu Jahl and Umayyah ibn Khalaf. One can find names of all the 14 Muslim
martyrs near the Badr battlefield.

Allah's Help:
Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) continuously prayed to Allah day and night.
He (S.A.W.) stretched forth his hand and supplicated to Allah until his cloak fell off his
shoulders. Abu Bakr (R.A.) came up to him, picked his cloak, and put it back on his
shoulders and said:
"O Prophet of Allah! You have cried out enough to your Lord. He will surely fulfill what
He has promised you." (Tirmidhi: 3081)
Immediately, Allah responded to the supplication and sent Angels for help, Allah says:
"(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you saying, 'I will
help you with a thousand Angels each behind the other in succession." (Surah Anfal
8:9)
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) raised his head and said cheeringly:
"O Abu Bakr, glad tidings are there for you; Allah's victory has approached, by Allah I
can see Jibreel on his mount in the thick of a sandstorm."
Then he (S.A.W.) recited the verse:
"Their multitude will be put to flight and they will show their backs." (Surah Qamar
54:45)

Death of Abu Jahl, the Pharaoh of this Nation:

At the end of the battle, Abdullah Ibn Masud (R.A.), saw Abu Jahl at the verge of death.
He stepped on his neck and said: "Have you seen how Allah has disgraced you?'

But look how arrogant is this enemy of Allah, he replied to Ibn Mas'oud saying: "I am not
disgraced. I am no more than a man killed by his own people on the battlefield." The
disbelievers were so terrified that they even left behind their chief and fled the
battlefield. When Ibn Mas'oud was about to cut off his head, he said: "Cut off my head
from near the shoulders so that it looks bigger than the heads of all others and it is seen
as the head of the chief. Ibn Mas'oud cut off his head and took it to Allah's Messenger
(S.A.W.), who praised Allah upon seeing it. He (S.A.W.) later said when he saw his
dead body: "This is the Pharaoh of this nation."

Victory for musilm believers!

As per Islamic history, in 630, the Arab tribe accepted their defeat and surrendered to
Prophet Muhammad. According to the holy book Quran, post victory, Allah reminded the
followers that it was due to his divine intervention that they were victorious.

“And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them. And you threw not, [O
Muhammad], when you threw, but it was Allah who threw that He might test the
believers with a good test. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” Quran 8:17

“And Allah made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your
hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the
Wise” Quran 3:126.

Significance of battle of badr:

The Battle of Badr is also significant as it teaches not to undermine the faith and
devotion towards Allah. It shows that the power of God is endless, and weapons and a
large army become useless if there is no support from Allah. It is believed that for this
battle, Allah sent angels from Heaven to help the Muslims.

“Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you
[attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks
[of distinction]” Quran 3:125

Conclusion
The conditions due to which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had to
leave Mecca for Medina concluded in a war. The chiefs of Mecca were the instigators
and responsible for this. They were determined to wage war against him, and indeed
generally against Islam. In such a scenario, the opposition who would be in a natural
state of mind would not just sit back and relax. In this case, the opposition were the
Muslims, who had to resort to military, political and economic measures in self-defence.
The hostile attitude of the enemies – the Meccans – led the Muslims to build up their
military strength. The battle of Badr took place in consequence. This battle was
enforced on the Muslims as an expected result of long continuous enmity. (Bashumail
1981:73)
In reality, it was because of the battle of Badr that Islam emerged as a state and a
recognised power. The significance of the battle of Badr was excellently summed up by
a western scholar: “Before Badr, Islam was a mere religion; after it became the state-
religion or more truly a State in itself.”