The Battle of Badr (2)

When the pagan army reached Juhfa, they received a message from Abu Sufyan informing them that the caravan was safe and that the army should return to Makkah. The men were preparing to return to Makkah, when Abu Jahl arrogantly refused to retreat. Only the men from Banu Zahra returned on the advice of their chief, Akhnas bin Shariq Thaqafi. The rest of the troops, now numbering one thousand, continued their journey. Upon reaching Udwa Qasmi, the Quraysh set up their camp in a spacious field, just behind the mountains that surrounded Badr.

The Prophet learned that the Quraysh were approaching Badr, and he met with his men to discuss their options. Abu Bakr and Umar both gave their opinions, and Miqdad bin Amr voiced the prevailing sentiment: “O Prophet, we will not say what the Children of Israel said to Musa: ‘You and your Lord go and fight, and we will sit here.’ (5: 24).

“We will fight along with you on your left and on your right, in front of you and behind you.” Miqdad’s words gladdened the Prophet with their sincerity; for he had worried the Ansar would fight in defence only if they were attacked in Madinah. After all, the Second Pledge of Aqabah did not call for the Ansar to fight alongside the Prophet outside the city.

The Prophet then asked the men if they all agreed. Sa’d bin Mu’adh , the chieftain of the Ansar said: “O Prophet, I swear by the One Who has sent you with the Truth, that if you plunge into the sea, we will also plunge into the sea with you, and not a single man among us will lag behind. We will not hesitate if you dash against the enemies, for we are firm in war and bold in the fray. Lead us, and may Allah bless us and our mission!”

At this the Prophet said: “I bring you glad tidings from Allah. He has promised me either booty from the caravan or victory on the battlefield. By Allah, there is a vision before me of a battlefield, and I see the exact places where each man will fall.” Resolutely the Prophet led his men onward to Badr, and they arrived there the same night as the Quraysh. The Muslims set up camp at Al-Udwat Al-Duniya, but Al-Hubab ibn Al-Mundhir advised the Prophet that they should move ahead and encamp at the well nearest the enemy so that they could store the water in reservoirs. He also suggested that the rest of the wells be filled up so that the Quraysh would have no water. The Prophet took Hubab’s brilliant advice and carried out his instructions. The Muslims then made a small enclosure of palm branches in which the Prophet would stay while directing his men during the battle. A group of the Ansar youths were put under the command of Sa’d bin Mu’adh to act as lookouts.

After this, the Prophet walked around Badr with his men, saying, “This is the spot where so and so will fall in battle tomorrow, God willing.” He passed the night in prayer at the foot of a tree while a gentle rain fell and lulled the men into a refreshing sleep. Allah recounts his favour to the believers in the following verse: “Remember how Allah enveloped you with drowsiness to make you feel safe. He caused rain to descend upon you from heaven so you could clean yourselves – rain that also removed Satan’s influence, strengthened your hearts, and made you stand firm in battle.” (8: 11).

The next morning (Friday, Ramadan 17, 2 A.H.) the two armies came face to face. “O Allah! Here come the Quraysh in their vanity and arrogance,” the Prophet supplicated. “They deny You and call Your Prophet a liar. O Allah! Fulfil Your promise to me! Help us, Allah!”

The Prophet assembled his men and told them not to begin fighting until he ordered them to do so. “Use arrows only when they come close, and don’t draw your swords unless they are very near.” Abu Bakr then escorted the Prophet to the small enclosure where the Prophet began to pray to his Lord: “O Allah! If this group is destroyed today, You will not be worshipped for ever. O Allah! If it is Your consent that after this day You will not be worshipped for ever.” Abu Jahl also prayed: “O God, destroy today the party that seeks to break filial ties and believes in wrong-doing. O Allah! Help the party today which is much loved by you.”