The
Battle of Badr
Abu Sufyân sent word to Abu Jahl
that he had arrived at Makkah and that he should also come back. But Abu Jahl
turned down the suggestion. Abu Jahl had, in truth, not come out with the army
simply to provide safety but also to avenge the killing of Amr bin Hadrami at
the hands of a Muslim party dispatched by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) to Nakhlah to probe some incident.
The Quraish had already started
preparations to retaliate. They were about to invade Al-Madinah when Damdam bin
Amr reached Makkah to seek their help. Abu Jahl was marching towards
Al-Madinah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
became aware of the movement of the Quraish army and all the notable chieftains
like Abu Jahl, Utbah, Shaibah, Walid, Hanzalah, Ubaidhab, Âsi, Harth, Tuaimah,
Zam'ah, Aqil, Abul-Bakhtari, Mas'ud, Munabbih, Nabih, Naufal, Sâ'ib, and
Rifâ'ah accompanying the Makkan troops.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) summoned his followers and asked for
their advice regarding the current development and said to the Companions:
"Makkah has sent you its darlings. What do you think about facing
them?" First of all Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) and then Umar bin Khattâb (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Miqdâd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
uttered words of valor and determination. The last one said: "O Prophet of
Allâh, we will not say as the Children of Israel said to Moses: 'Go you and
your Lord and fight, we will sit here'." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked again for their advice. By this he
really wanted to know the reaction of the Ansâr for all the three who had
pledged their support and loyalty belonged to the Muhâjirin. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) put the same
question again, the Ansâr now realized that the question was meant for them.
Their original pledge with him
implied their defending him in Al-Madinah and did not put them under any
obligation to take part in a military expedition outside their territory. Saad
bin Mu'âdh (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
immediately got up to say in reply: "O Prophet of Allâh, it seems as if
you are speaking to us and you want to have our answer." "Yes,"
the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
said. Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
then said, "We have believed in you and have full faith in your being
Allâh's Messenger. How can it be possible that Allâh's Messenger would go out
to fight the disbelievers and we remain sitting in our houses? These
disbelievers are, after all, men like us. How can we fear them? If you command
us to plunge into the sea, we will do so."
Lack
of Means:
Satisfied with the staunch support
and determination of the Companions, the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) resolved to march out. The total number
of the combatants did not exceed 310 or 312 or 313. When they were finally
examined outside the city, some minor children were found accompanying the
troops who were not fit to take part in battle yet. Thus the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked them to go
back. Some of them persistently entreated to be enlisted and of those some were
granted permission to accompany the army. It was in no way a well-equipped
force. This Islamic army had only two horses under the charge of Zubair bin
Awwâm and Miqdâd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
and seventy camels to be mounted by three or four persons at a time. Many
others accompanied on foot. On reaching Badr, the Islamic army noticed that the
enemy force had already captured the raised piece of land and pitched their
tents on it. The Muslims had to take the low-lying sandy spot. However, the
wells of Badr were under the control of the Muslim force. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) issued orders that
any of the disbelievers coming for water must not be stopped. A hut of palm
branches was erected for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) on an elevation overlooking the battlefield. He prayed and
invoked the help and blessings of Allâh.
The number of the Companions were
one-third of the Makkans, and their weapons were less than one-hundredth of
what the Quraish army had. Their army consisted of young and strong men, and
all wearing armor. The Muslims were, on the other hand, starving, weak, sick
and old. Most of them didn't even possess simple weapons. Some of them had
swords but no bows and arrows, while others possessed spears but no swords.
When the Muslims encamped, the disbelievers sent Umair bin Wahb Jumahi as a spy
to find out the number of Muslim soldiers. Umair reported that they were not
more than 310, having a total cavalry of only two. The height of the
disbelievers arrogance may be gauged from the statement of Utbah bin Rabiah who
scornfully remarked, "Let us go back without a fight," meaning the
disgracefully low number of the Muslims was no match for the large and
well-equipped army of the Makkans. But Abu Jahl vehemently opposed the proposal
expressing his firm determination to exterminate them no matter how few they
were.
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