General
Treatment of the Prisoners:
When the captives reached
Al-Madinah, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
said distributing them among the Companions, "Treat them generously."
Among them was Abu Aziz bin Umair who was the standard-bearer of the
disbelievers' army and also the full brother of Mus'ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Abu Aziz relates,
"When I was being brought to Al-Madinah, I was in the custody of a group
of the Ansâr. Whenever they sat down to dine, they gave bread to me and they
began to eat dates. Being ashamed, I tried to return it but whenever I gave the
bread to any of them, he gave it back to me." On reaching Al-Madinah, Abu
Aziz was lodged with Abu Yusr Ansâri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ). Mus'ab bin Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) said to Abu Yusr Ansâri (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), "Treat him roughly, for his mother is a wealthy
woman." Abu Aziz said, "Brother, is it for you to give this
counsel?" "You are not my brother," replied Umair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), "instead he is
my brother who is tying up your hands." The mother of Abu Aziz sent four
thousand dirhams for his release.
The defeat suffered by the
polytheists plunged Makkah into gloom. There was not a house in the city, which
did not go into mourning. The Makkans stood aghast and agitated. However, the
suppressed Muslims of Makkah breathed a sigh of relief and felt elated. Abu
Lahab, who could not join the army at Badr, was so terribly shocked that he
died after a week.
The
Issue of the Captives:
Concerning the captives, Allâh's
Messenger sought the advice of the Companions. Umar bin Khattâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) submitted, "In
my opinion every one of us should kill his own relatives to establish beyond
doubt that, in Islam, love of faith is far greater than love for
relations." Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said, "Let all the captives be released in return for reasonable ransoms
so that the amount be invested in developing weaponry. Besides, some of them
may embrace Islam in future." The Prophet liked the proposal of Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Some of the
prisoners were released without ransom. The Makkans sent from one thousand to
four thousand dirhams to pay for the release of their relatives. The captives
who knew reading and writing but were unable to pay ransom were allowed freedom
after teaching ten children to read and write.
Zainab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا), the daughter of the
Prophet, sent her necklace as a ransom for the release of Abul-Âs, her husband,
who was also among the captives. Allâh's Messenger noticed the necklace and
said to his Companions, "If you think it fit, send the necklace back to
Zainab, for it was a gift from her mother Khadijah." The Companions were
pleased to accept it and released Abul-Âs at once. Abul-Âs then hurried back to
Makkah and sent Zainab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْھَا) to Al-Madinah at once. He accepted Islam six years [not six
but three or four years] after this event.
Revengeful
Enthusiasm of the Makkan Infidels
In the wake of ignominious defeat at
Badr, the Makkans held themselves back from mourning loudly, for to them, it
would be honoring the victorious Muslims. Safwân bin Umayyah, whose father
Umayyah and son Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
were both killed at Badr, persuaded Umair bin Wahb to go to Al-Madinah and
assassinate Muhammad.
Umair arrived at Al-Madinah with a
poisonous sword. Umar bin Khattâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) was in doubt and catching hold of him by the handle of his
sword, took him to the Prophet. Allâh's Messenger said to him, "What are
you here for?" "I have come to seek the release of my son who is
among the captives of Badr, do mercy on me and get him released." The
Prophet said, "Why don't you speak the truth that Safwân has sent you to
assassinate me?"
Afterwards he related the entire
conversation held between Safwân and Umair. Umair declared without loss of
time, "I accept Islam and bear witness that you are truly the Messenger of
Allâh, for our secret dealings were known to none except Safwân and me."
On the day of Badr, Allâh the
Almighty helped the Muslims with His angels. The participation of angels in the
battle was described by the polytheists on their return to Makkah and by those
viewing the battle from a distance. They stated, "On the day of Badr, all
of a sudden, we witnessed a piece of cloud passing over our heads towards the
battle spot. The piece of cloud was producing the neighing sound of horses. We
also heard someone say, "Hurry! Go ahead." This voice struck such
terror in us that a cousin of mine fell down dead out of fear."
The battle of Badr being over, the
Prophet came back to Al-Madinah on Ramadân 22. This very year, during the last
days of the current month, Sadaqah Fitr was made obligatory and the Eid prayers
and the sacrifice of an animal (camel, cow or sheep) were also enjoined on the
believers. The same year he married his next daughter Umm Kulthum (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا) to Uthmân bin Affân
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) who came to be
called Dhun-Nurain (the holder of two lights), and also gave the hand of his
youngest daughter Fâtimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا) to Ali (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) bin Abu Tâlib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
The flames of revenge were burning
very strongly in the hearts of the defeated disbelievers of Makkah. Two months
after the battle of Badr Abu Sufyân proceeded from Makkah at the head of a
cavalry of two hundred men to give battle to the Muslims. When he drew near
Al-Madinah the Prophet was informed and came out with a band of Muslim
combatants. But Abu Sufyân had already left after setting the some date
orchards on fire and killing Saeed bin Amr Ansâri and his friend who were
engaged in agricultural activities.
When Abu Sufyân heard of Muslims'
arrival, the whole party took to their heels. They were in so much of a hurry
that, in order to lighten their load, they threw away bags of food on the way.
The Muslim troops gave them a very hot chase up to Kadr and found the food
lying all over. Having abandoned the chase the Prophet came back to Al-Madinah
and the event came to be known as the expedition of Suwaiq. The type of food
they abandoned is called Suwaiq in Arabic.
The
Third Year of Migration
It has already been mentioned that
Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul was to be installed as the king of Al-Madinah. But
his plan failed as a result of the Prophet's arrival in Al-Madinah. Because of
this he fostered enmity against the Prophet and his Companions. However, he was
wise enough to keep his hateful feelings and hostile attitude a secret.
Nevertheless he entered into heinous conspiracies with the Makkans against the
Muslims. He tried hard to make the polytheists rise against the believers but
was utterly defeated in his purpose. He grew so awestricken in the wake of the
victory at Badr that he apparently accepted Islam but in truth he remained
hostile to the Muslims. He also advised all the non-Muslims to follow in his
footsteps and he himself played the role of their leader. The group of men his
secret planning gave birth to, are called the Munâfiqin (hypocrites). Some Jews
too joined his party and tried to benefit from the discord.
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