An appointment at Badr

Abu Sufyan had left Uhud with the promise of another military encounter the following year, and with the arrival of Sha’ban 4 A.H., the Prophet pre-empted his adversary in a march toward the battlefield. He camped at Badr, where he waited eight days for Abu Sufyan. He had with him a force consisting of 1500 soldiers and 10 horses. Ali bin Abu Talib was the standard bearer, while the administration of Madinah was handed over to Abdullah Rawaha .

Abu Sufyan also set out with 2000 soldiers, including 50 cavalrymen, but from the start he appeared to be lacking fire. Upon arriving at the venue he remarked to his men, “Battle is suitable when there is freshness and greenery throughout so that the animals can graze and we can also drink milk. But now as there is drought everywhere, I am going back. You people should follow me.” Abu Sufyan’s entire army seemed to share his sentiments and tamely marched back without meeting the enemy.

The Muslims, meanwhile, stayed on at Badr and carried out a number of business transactions. They sold their goods and made handsome profits. The Quraysh had retreated without drawing a single sword, so the Muslims returned with their military reputation in high standing. In Rabi’ Al-Awwal that same year the Prophet launched a punitive attack on a group of bandits at Dumat Al Jandal. At last all the enemies were subdued, and there was peace for an entire year, a year that the Prophet was able to spend consolidating the faith and teaching his followers.