The Battle of Badr - The first war of Islamic history

                            

The battlefield of Badr is located about 130 kilometers from Medina in Saudi Arabia. Nearly 1,400 years ago, a battle took place there, which is considered one of the most ‘history-defining’ battles in the world. This is also the first battle of Islamic history.

Surprisingly, the number of people who participated in this battle from a military perspective was very small. However, its significance was so immense that the holy book of the Muslims, the Quran, refers to this day as "Al-Furqan," meaning "The Day of Decision" or "The Day of Judgment."

For the newly established Muslim state in Medina, this battle held enormous political, military, and economic importance.

Abu Sufyan, a leader of the Quraysh in Mecca, was returning from Syria with a massive caravan carrying weapons and supplies. His caravan contained goods worth fifty thousand dinars, most of which were weapons purchased from Syria.

The Quraysh were initially pleased when the Muslims left Mecca and migrated to Medina. However, their joy did not last long. They soon realized that Muhammad (PBUH) had successfully established a city-state in Yathrib (now Medina). This state was strategically located right in the middle of the trade route between Mecca and Syria. The city was renamed "Madinat-un-Nabi" (The City of the Prophet). To counter this growing threat, the Quraysh of Mecca collected funds and sent Abu Sufyan to Syria to buy weapons.

"If the Muslims settle in Yathrib, it could pose a severe threat to the Quraysh’s trade with Syria and Iraq, especially during the hot seasons," Abu Sufyan thought.

He noticed a piece of dried camel dung on the ground as he walked. He picked it up and scrutinized it. It seemed to be at least two days old.

Being an Arab, Abu Sufyan was naturally a skilled tracker. In the harsh desert, one who cannot detect an enemy's presence cannot survive long.

He poured some water from his container and washed the dung. Inside, he found two date seeds. The seeds were thinner than the ones commonly found in Mecca.

Abu Sufyan sat down, holding his head in his hands.

These dates could only have come from Yathrib. This meant that at least two days ago, someone from Yathrib had been tracking his caravan and had likely returned to inform the Muslims.

If this were true, then trouble was imminent.

He needed to send a message to Mecca immediately. If he wanted to survive, he had to change his route. 

The Field of Badr

The battlefield of Badr is located about 130 kilometers from Medina in Saudi Arabia. Nearly 1,400 years ago, a battle took place there, which is considered one of the most ‘history-defining’ battles in the world. This is also the first battle of Islamic history.

For the newly established Muslim state in Medina, this battle held enormous political, military, and economic importance.

Abu Sufyan, a leader of the Quraysh in Mecca, was returning from Syria with a massive caravan carrying weapons and supplies. His caravan contained goods worth fifty thousand dinars, most of which were weapons purchased from Syria.

The Quraysh were initially pleased when the Muslims left Mecca and migrated to Medina. However, their joy did not last long. They soon realized that Muhammad (PBUH) had successfully established a city-state in Yathrib (now Medina). This state was strategically located right in the middle of the trade route between Mecca and Syria. The city was renamed "Madinat-un-Nabi" (The City of the Prophet). To counter this growing threat, the Quraysh of Mecca collected funds and sent Abu Sufyan to Syria to buy weapons.

"If the Muslims settle in Yathrib, it could pose a severe threat to the Quraysh’s trade with Syria and Iraq, especially during the hot seasons," Abu Sufyan thought.

He noticed a piece of dried camel dung on the ground as he walked. He picked it up and scrutinized it. It seemed to be at least two days old.

Being an Arab, Abu Sufyan was naturally a skilled tracker. In the harsh desert, one who cannot detect an enemy's presence cannot survive long.

He poured some water from his container and washed the dung. Inside, he found two date seeds. The seeds were thinner than the ones commonly found in Mecca.

Abu Sufyan sat down, holding his head in his hands.

These dates could only have come from Yathrib. This meant that at least two days ago, someone from Yathrib had been tracking his caravan and had likely returned to inform the Muslims.

If this were true, then trouble was imminent.

He needed to send a message to Mecca immediately. If he wanted to survive, he had to change his route.

Back at the caravan, he quickly turned the camels toward the coast of the Red Sea. His caravan consisted of a thousand camels, and hiding them would not be easy.

Meanwhile, he sent Damdam Ibn Amr Ghifari to Mecca to deliver an urgent message.

Damdam entered Mecca from the direction of Mount Safa. He was riding a camel while half-naked, waving his torn clothes in the air. He had cut the nose of his camel and overturned its saddle, creating a dramatic scene.

His shouting and chaotic display quickly gathered the people of Mecca.

The news spread rapidly: Abu Sufyan's caravan, carrying a thousand camels and fifty thousand dinars’ worth of weapons, was on the verge of being captured by Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers.

The Quraysh elders gathered at Dar Al-Nadwa. They needed to launch an attack as soon as possible to rescue Abu Sufyan’s caravan.

The most anxious among them was Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, whose beloved daughter Hind was the wife of Abu Sufyan. If Abu Sufyan was not saved, he would have had to witness his own daughter becoming a widow.

A war council was convened at Dar Al-Nadwa under the leadership of Abu Hakam Amr ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl).

Present at the council were prominent leaders of Makkah, including As ibn Wa’il, Walid ibn Mughirah, Safwan ibn Umayyah, Ubay ibn Khalaf, Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ait, Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi’ah, Amr ibn Hisham, Amr ibn Adi, Abu Lahab ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, and all the other major chiefs of Makkah.

A decision was made: Abu Sufyan’s caravan was the caravan of all of Makkah. Everyone had to come forward to protect it. The army would march towards Madinah the very next day. The plan was to defeat the Muslims, drive them back to Madinah, and safely bring Abu Sufyan back to Makkah.

Participation in this battle was mandatory for every individual and every tribe if they wished to remain in Makkah. Those who could not join the battle themselves had to send someone in their place. If they could not send a substitute, they were required to bear the costs of the war.

The next day, an army of more than a thousand warriors was assembled. However, not everyone in the army was risking their lives solely for Abu Sufyan.

Most had financial stakes in the caravan—losing it meant losing their own investments. Many others were trapped in debt owed to the wealthy chieftains and were forced to fight on their behalf.

Despite the hasty departure, the Makkah army was quite formidable. Out of the thousand warriors, nearly two hundred were clad in armor. They had six hundred horses and one hundred seventy camels, and this well-equipped force set out toward Madinah.

In contrast, the Muslims at Badr were not well-prepared for a battle. They had come to intercept a trade caravan, not to fight a war.

Among them were eighty-two Muhajirun and two hundred thirty-one Ansar. Most of them carried only a few arrows, some bows, and a few swords. They had only seventy camels and just two horsemen—Miqdad ibn Amr (RA) and Zubair ibn al-Awwam (RA).

As they neared Badr, they learned that Abu Sufyan’s caravan had taken a different route and that a thousand-strong army, led by Abu Jahl, had arrived.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) immediately called for an emergency consultation.

He informed his companions that Allah had commanded him to confront the disbelievers. He was fully aware of his army’s limited strength—they were not prepared for war.

The Prophet (SAW) addressed his companions and said, "Whoever wishes to stay with me may do so. Whoever does not wish to fight may return to Madinah."

Miqdad ibn Amr (RA) responded firmly, "As long as there is life in our bodies, we are ready to fight against the idolaters alongside you."

The opinions of the Muhajirun were heard, but the Prophet (SAW) was still uncertain about the Ansar.

After all, the Quraysh's enmity was mainly with the Muhajirun. Was it right to involve the Ansar in this conflict? The Prophet (SAW) was deep in thought.

Sa’d ibn Ubadah (RA) dispelled this uncertainty. With a resolute voice, he declared, "O Messenger of Allah (SAW), if you command us to ride our horses into the sea, we will do so without hesitation."

The Muslim army prepared for battle. It was decided that they would confront the Quraysh while keeping Badr’s water reservoirs in front of them.

At that moment, Hubab ibn al-Mundhir (RA) asked, "Is this positioning of the army by Allah’s command, or is it your personal decision, O Messenger of Allah (SAW)?"

The Prophet (SAW) replied, "It is my personal decision."

Hubab then suggested, "In that case, my advice would be to capture the closest well to the Quraysh, block access to the other wells, and form our battle lines there. This way, the Quraysh will be deprived of water during the battle."

The Prophet (SAW) accepted this suggestion.

The Muslim army took position with the mountains of ‘Aqanqal behind them, having seized control of the wells.

A shelter made of palm leaves was set up on a hill for the Prophet (SAW) so he could observe the battle preparations.

Meanwhile, in the Quraysh camp, celebrations began even before the battle had started. They slaughtered camels, drank heavily, and indulged with the women they had brought along. They were certain of their victory.

Amidst this, news arrived from Abu Sufyan’s caravan—they were now out of danger. Abu Sufyan sent word that Abu Jahl could return to Makkah if he wished.

Many Quraysh leaders, particularly Utbah and Walid ibn Mughirah, agreed with this suggestion. They were joined by the clans of Banu Hashim, Banu Zuhrah, Banu Adi, and Banu Muttalib.

However, Abu Jahl could not tolerate their hesitation. He mocked those who wanted to retreat, questioning their manhood and honor. In the end, he managed to rally everyone back into the battle.

On the morning of the 17th of Ramadan, 2 AH (March 13, 624 CE), a Quraysh scout, Umair ibn Wahb, rode out to count the Muslim army. He returned with his report:

"They are around three hundred in number, lightly armed, but they are fierce warriors. I see death hanging around the necks of the Madinan camels."

Before the battle commenced, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) fell into prostration, seeking divine help. Allah promised His aid by sending angels.

Then, the Prophet (SAW) arranged the Muslim army into rows. Since their numbers were small and they had no cavalry, archers were positioned on both flanks to counter the Quraysh horsemen.

The Muslim forces took position on the slightly elevated, sandy ground of Badr, while the Quraysh camped on the lower, softer terrain. This positioning initially made it difficult for the Muslims to charge forward.

However, a rainfall just before the battle changed everything. The Quraysh's camp turned into slippery mud, while the Muslim ground became firm and solid.

Given their limited weapons, the Prophet (SAW) issued a strict order: "Do not shoot your arrows until the enemy is within two hundred paces. Use spears when they are within fifty paces. Only when they come within ten paces should you draw your swords."

According to Arab tradition, the battle began with duels.

From the Quraysh side, three noble warriors stepped forward: Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi’ah, and Walid ibn Utbah.

Three young Ansar warriors came forward to challenge them, but the Messenger of Allah (SAW) stopped them. If the Ansar had fought first, the hypocrites might have spread false accusations that the Prophet (SAW) had sent the Ansar into danger while keeping the Muhajirun safe.

Instead, experienced warriors were chosen:

·         Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib (RA) to face Utbah ibn Rabi’ah,

·         Ubaydah ibn al-Harith (RA) to fight Shaybah ibn Rabi’ah, and

·         Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) to challenge the young Walid ibn Utbah.

Walid charged at Ali (RA) with his sword raised high. But the 24-year-old warrior displayed nerves of steel, swiftly dodging Walid’s lethal strike. Then, in a flawless counterattack, Ali (RA) struck his sword across Walid’s neck—his severed head fell to the ground.

The Muslim ranks erupted in "Allahu Akbar!"

Seeing his son fall, Utbah flew into a rage and attacked Hamza (RA). Hamza, wearing a white turban decorated with an ostrich feather, quickly dodged the attack and countered with a powerful strike. Utbah managed to block it and retaliated fiercely. The sheer force of the blow made Hamza (RA) take a few steps back. But within moments, he surged forward with incredible speed and struck Utbah’s neck with a fatal blow—his head was sent flying.

Once again, "Allahu Akbar!" echoed across the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Shaybah and Ubaydah (RA) severely wounded each other. Seeing Ubaydah (RA) injured, Ali (RA) and Hamza (RA) rushed in and finished off Shaybah.

Abu Jahl, Amr ibn Hisham, realized that waiting any longer would be a mistake. He ordered an all-out assault.

With battle cries of "Victory for Hubal! Victory for Uzza!" the Quraysh forces surged forward toward the Muslim ranks.

On the hill of ‘Aqanqal, the Prophet (SAW) fell into prostration, weeping and pleading to Allah for help.

He remained in sujood for a long time, repeatedly imploring:

"O Allah, if this small group of believers is destroyed today, there will be no one left on this earth to call upon Your name! O Allah, fulfill Your promise of victory!"

The battlefield turned into a swirling storm of dust. The odds were stacked three to one—an incredibly uneven fight. The Quraysh cavalry alone nearly equaled the entire Muslim army in number.

Then, a sudden radiance illuminated the Prophet’s (SAW) face. He stood up and proclaimed:

"The help of Allah is coming!"

As the enemy troops charged forward, the Prophet (SAW) grabbed a handful of dust and threw it toward them, declaring:

"May their faces be covered in disgrace!"

The Sahabah (RA) followed his example, flinging handfuls of dust toward the enemy.

And with that, the fierce battle began.

As the fierce battle raged on, Allah’s divine help descended upon the battlefield.

The Quraysh warriors were struck with terror as they saw a group of mysterious fighters dressed in white robes, wielding sticks, advancing onto the battlefield. The enemy forces could not stand against them!

Thousands of angels landed on this mountain

Meanwhile, Satan himself had appeared in the form of Suraka ibn Ju'sham to deceive the Quraysh. However, when he saw Angel Jibreel (AS) descending on a white horse, he fled in fear.

Thus, Allah fulfilled His promise.

"Ya Mansur Amit!" (O Victorious One, Strike!)

With this battle cry, the Muslim army charged forward.

A strange phenomenon began to unfold—the Quraysh cavalry struggled to move as their horses’ hooves sank into the muddy ground. This gave the Muslim archers, though few in number, a great advantage, allowing them to tear through the powerful Quraysh forces.

Even in retreat, the Quraysh warriors found their horses stuck in the mud.

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The Heroic Stand of Two Young Ansari Brothers

Amidst the chaos, two young Ansari brothers, Mu’adh (RA) and Mu’awwidh (RA), displayed extraordinary bravery.

They approached Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA) in the battlefield and asked—

"Uncle! Do you know who Abu Jahl is?"

He replied, "Yes, I do."

The two boys responded, "Uncle! Show us Abu Jahl! By Allah, if we see him, we will not return until we have killed him, no matter what happens to us!"

The Fate of Abu Jahl

With their target identified, the two brothers dashed towards Abu Jahl.

The battle was now at its peak, and the Quraysh forces were falling apart.

The elder brother Mu’adh (RA) turned to his younger brother and said,

"If I am martyred, tell our mother that we fulfilled her command. We did not let Abu Jahl escape!"

Then, one of them struck Abu Jahl’s horse, causing it to collapse.

The other shouted ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and charged at Abu Jahl, severing one of his legs with a single strike.

Hearing his father’s cries, Abu Jahl’s son, Ikrimah, rushed to his aid.

In the ensuing skirmish, Ikrimah’s sword struck Mu’awwidh (RA), cutting off one of his hands.

Yet, Mu’awwidh (RA) did not falter!

He placed his severed hand under his foot, pulled it off completely, and ran towards Abu Jahl. Together, the two brothers finished him off!

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The Final Victory at Badr

By the afternoon, the Quraysh army was utterly defeated.

Seventy Quraysh warriors were killed, and seventy more were taken captive.

The Muslim army escorted the prisoners on camels while they walked back to Madinah on foot.

In the Battle of Badr, 14 Muslim companions were martyred, including figures like Ubayda ibn al-Harith, Umair ibn Abi Waqqas, and Mihja, the freed slave of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA).

The Battle of Badr changed the course of history forever. From this moment, the rise of a great civilization had begun.

The nameplate of Muslim martyrs in the Battle of Badr