Story No. 173 – Battle of Badr (First battle of Islam)

For 13 years after the advent of the prophetic mission of Nabi Muhammad (saw), he and his followers were tormented and tortured by the infidel Quraish in Makkah. Finally, Nabi Muhammad (saw) left Makkah and migrated to Medina. Yet the infidel Makkans did not stop tormenting the Muslims who had remained in Makkah and also did not let them leave Makkah and migrate somewhere else.

 

At the same time, the Makkan enemies of Islam had decided to put Medina under a -severe economic siege. They had forbidden all caravans from carrying provisions and foodstuffs to Medina. This siege lasted such a long time that the people of Medina were faced with many troubles and hardships and had to go as far as the coasts of the Red Sea to buy foodstuff.

 

Abu Jahl, too, wrote an extremely harsh and rude letter Nabi Muhammad (saw) and in that letter warned him to expect the attack of the Quraish.

 

It was on this occasion that Allah (SWT) said, ‘Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them; those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And had there not been Allah’s repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.’ (Noble Qur’an, 22:39-40).

 

Battle of Badr (First battle of Islam)In the second year of the Hijra, Nabi Muhammad (saw) arose to guard Islam, to defend the basic rights of the Muslims, and to frustrate the satanic conspiracies of the Quraish. In the battle of Badr, they confronted the Quraish troops. Though the number of Muslim combatants (313) was one-third that of the infidel forces (1000), the Muslims defeated the infidels by their power of faith and by Allah’s (SWT) help.

 

Nabi Muhammad (saw) and the two boys

 

One of the many qualities of the Nabi Muhammad (saw) was wisdom. An example of this was when the Muslims were preparing to fight Mushrikeen (polytheists) in the battle of Badr. Nabi Muhammad (saw) wanted to know the number of soldiers in the Makkan army so the Muslims could plan their strategy accordingly. He (saw) sent a group of Muslims to find it out before the battle started.

 

At the water wells in Badr, they found two boys and brought them to Nabi Muhammad (saw). When these boys saw Prophet Muhammad’s glowing face and how merciful he was with them, they were not afraid and tried to help, but they did not know the exact numbers of the soldiers.

 

Nabi Muhammad (saw) asked them, How many camels do they slaughter everyday? Boys replied, One day, nine and another day, ten.

 

From their answer, Nabi Muhammad (saw) estimated between 900 and 1000 soldiers. He (saw) worked out a plan for the battlefield and the Muslims followed it in their fight. They were victorious with the help of Allah (SWT), even though they were only 313 in number which was one-third that of the size of the Makkan army (1000)! Because of their faith, the Muslims raised the flag of Islam high in their first battle against Mushrikeen (polytheists).