The Battle of Badr was fought in the 2nd year after the Hijra in the month of Ramadan (13 March 624 CE)in the Hejaz region of western Arabia.It was the first significant combat between the Muslims and Quraysh, the most powerful tribe in Mecca.
When Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) migrated with his companions to Madina, they left Makkah in secret, leaving behind their property and their money.
The Kuffar in Makkah were very annoyed by this successful migration. And in Madinah, the Muslims were thinking of a way to get their property back.
However, at that time, the Muslims were weak, and not well equipped to fight the Quraysh tribes. Moreover, the Prophet (pbuh) would not take such an action until Allah allowed him to do so. Then one day he received the revelation from Allah,
“Permission to fight is given to those, who are fighting them, because they have been wronged, and surely Allah is Able to give them victory.” (22:39)
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) received information that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb was coming with a large trading caravan belonging to the Quraysh from Syria to Mecca. The Muslims planned to raid the caravan in retaliation for Quraysh’s taking the property that Muslims could not take with them to Medina.
Abu Sufyan heard that the Messenger of Allah was coming towards him he sent to Makkah for help from the Quraysh to protect him from the Muslims. The people of Makkah prepared themselves quickly and departed.
The disbelievers came out of Makkah with 1,000 men, 100 horses, and 700 camels, greatly outnumbering the poorer Muslim army.The Muslims were materially unprepared for any large scale battle and they did not even intend to engage in a battle.
Now, Abu Sufyan’s caravan was able to escape, so it seemed that there may be no armed conflict.However, Abu Jahl, the leader of the Quraysh commented, “No, by Allah! We will not go back until we proceed to the Wells of Badr, slaughter camels there, drink alcohol, and female singers dance and sing to us. In this way, all the Arabs will always talk about us and what we did on that day.”
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) consulted with his followers, telling them that Allah had promised them one of the two parties either the caravan or the army.
Muhaajiroon, stated: “O Messenger of Allah! March on as Allah guides you, and we are with you.I swear by the Being Who sent you with the truth, that if you order us, we will follow you to the extremity of the earth and fight with you until your goal is attained.”
After this Ansaar spoke: “We have believed in you and regard you as the true Messenger of Allah, and on this we have given you our binding promise, to hear and obey. March on as you desire and we are with you! We will be perfectly content with whatever may happen to us tomorrow, at the hands of our enemies for surely, we are patient in war, fierce in battle, and truthful in our company.”
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) left Madina with a small band of men numbering between 313 and 319. There were roughly 80 to 100 Muhaajiroon. And the rest of the men were Ansar. They had only 2 horses, but some say that it was actually 3.
The Quraysh who had arrived earlier, had taken over the the main wells. The Muslims began to worry about how they would get water, so Allah sent down a heavy rain, allowing the Muslims to drink and use it for purity.
The battle began on Jumu’ah morning Allah sent down, in support of the Prophet and the Muslims, 1,000 angels! On one side, 500 angels were under the command of Jibreel, and on the other, 500 angels were under the command of Meekaa’eel.
Shaytaan as well as his devil army also came on the Day of Badr. Shaytaan appeared in the shape of Suraaqah Ibn Maalik, who was actually the Chief of a great and powerful tribe, Banu Mudlij and he said to the pagans, “None can defeat you today, and I will help you.”
When Shaytaan, who was holding the hand of a pagan man, saw Jibreel, he let go of his hand, and ran away with his soldiers.
That man asked him, “O Suraaqah! You claimed that you would aid us!!”
And Shaytaan said as he was running, ”Verily, I see what you do not see! Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment!”
When the disbelievers faced the Muslims, the Muslims attacked their faces with swords. When they fled, the angels smote their rear ends. In this battle, the greatest chiefs of the idolators was slain. The Muslims were victorious.
Abu Sufyaan returned to Makkah and told , “The fact is that we met our enemy and turned our backs. They made us to flee. And I cannot blame our tribesmen because they faced not only them, but also men wearing white robes riding horses, who were between the skies and earth. They spared nothing, and no one ever had a chance.”
The Prophet and the Muslims returned from Badr. About 14 or so Muslims were martyred on that day while many of the idolaters were killed.
This battle laid the foundation of the Islamic State and made out of the Muslims a force to be reckoned with by the dwellers of the Arabic Peninsula.
