The battle of Badr

Turkish people have their iftar at Taksim Square during the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul. — AFP

In the second year of the Hijrah, during the month of Ramadan, the Muslims came up against the infidels in the decisive battle of Badr, which was to prove the turning point not only in the destiny of Islam but of the entire human race.

This event in which the under equipped Muslims emerged victorious still stands today as one of the founding moments in Islamic history. The battle of Badr was one of the major signs of God, in which He demonstrated that those who believed in Him and His religion would in the end be made victorious despite the apparently overwhelming obstacles in store ahead. This day has been remembered in the Holy Qur’an as the “Day of Criterion (between right and wrong)”:

“If you believe in Allah and that which We revealed unto Our slaves on the Day of Criterion (between right and wrong), the day when two armies met.” [Holy Qur’an 8:41]

No one was aware of the importance of the outcome of the battle as the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself. We might read the depth of his fervour in his prayer before the beginning of the battle when he stood up supplicating his Lord:

“God this is Quraish. It has come with all its arrogance and boastfulness, trying to discredit Thy Apostle. God, I ask Thee to humiliate them tomorrow. God, if this Muslim band will perish today, Thou shall not be worshipped.”

At this battle in which the pagan army consisted of 950 fighters and the Muslim army consisted of 314, the Islamic defence was a combination of three defensive lines:

1. The personality of the Messenger, his leadership and his unequalled firmness. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was to the Muslims the final refuge at Badr and at every battle he attended.

2. The Hashimites (the clan of the Prophet) were led by Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allah exalt him) who entered this battle relatively obscure and came out with unequalled military fame. His military performances became the most popular subject of the Arab caravans’ conversations throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

3. The hundreds of companions of the Messenger had hearts that were filled with the faith and readiness for sacrifice. Many of them viewed martyrdom to be a gain, equal to life and victory. These good companions were the army of Islam, its first line of defence and a thick wall behind which the Messenger (peace be upon him) used to stand. They were the attackers and the defenders.

As to the clan of the Messenger, they were the ones he used to call before anyone else, to offer the heavy sacrifices. They used to stand in the first line of defence opening for the army the way through enemy ranks with their thrusts pushing forward. When the general offensives began and every companion participated, the clan of the Messenger was the most damaging to the enemies. They were so at Badr and the subsequent battles.

Many narrations speak about the appearance of Angels in the battle of Badr. It is mentioned in Saheeh Muslim that Ibn Abbas said: “While on that day a Muslim from the Ansaar was chasing a disbeliever, he heard over him the swashing of a whip and the voice of the rider saying: ‘Go ahead Haizum.’ He looked at the disbelievers who had fallen on the ground on his back. The man came to Allah’s Messenger and related the incident, upon which Allah’s Messenger said: “You have told the truth. This was the help from the third Heaven.”

Another incident is reported, where another man from the Ansaar captured Abbas Ibn Abdul Mutalib, who said: “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah this man did not capture me. I was captured by a man who was bald and had the most handsome face, and who was riding a horse. I cannot see him here among the people¦” The man from the Ansaar said: ‘I captured him, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Prophet replied: “Be quite, Allah, the Al Mighty, strengthened you with the help of a noble Angel.”

It is also reported that after the battle, the people used to recognize those who were killed by the Angels, by wounds over their necks, finger and toes, because those parts had a mark as if they were branded by Fire.

With the help of Allah, Allah’s Messenger and his companions fought bravery until the Quraysh suffered great loss and fled the battlefield. They lost 70 of their best men and 70 were taken as prisoners by the Muslims. Only fourteen Muslims were martyred in this battle: “And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful.” [Soorah al-Anfal (8): 26]— Special to Khaleej Times