4. Under these circumstances, the Holy Prophet 
decided to strengthen his grip on the trading highway, from where the Caravans of Quraish passed particularly while going to Syria for procuring weapons as well as business goods. For this purpose, he entered into Peace Agreements with the surrounding tribes so as to exhibit his supremacy over the Quraish.
5. In the month of Shaban of the 2nd Al-Hijra, Abu Sufyan was returning from Syria through the above trading highway with the imported goods. With the fear of attack from the Muslims, he sent one of his fellow men to Abu Jahl in Mecca for getting his protection. On reaching Mecca, his fellow falsely started crying that the Muslims had attacked their goods brought by Abu Sufyan. Thus Abu Jahl, who was already planning to attack the Holy Prophet quickly proceeded to Madina with his strong force of 1000 skilled warriors including 600 trained armored personnel, plus a cavalry of 100 horsemen.
6. The Holy Prophet with his 313 Companions, 3 horses, 8 swords and 70 camels, moved out of Madina and apparently went after the caravan led by Abu Sufyan, but his main target was Abu Jahl and his huge army. Consequently, on reaching near the caravan, the Holy Prophet suddenly changed his route and moved straight from the rear to strike the main army led by Abu Jahl and forced Abu Sufyan to run away to Mecca. The later, thus, could not join Abu Jahl.
7. The Holy Prophet then proceeded towards Badr and continued to change his routes suddenly on the way so as keep the people in doubt about his destination. *
8. On the way, just before reaching Badr, the Holy Prophet stayed in the valley of Zifran, and it was there where on getting information from his spies, he disclosed about Abu Jahl coming towards them with his mighty force. The Holy Prophet , therefore, consulted his companions about fighting. Abu Bakr and Umar rose up and delivered arousing speeches for fighting Then Miqdad bin Amr stood up and submitted: “ Allah’s Messenger! Kindly do what ever you think is appropriate. We will not, at all, say what the Descendents of Israel said to Musa: ‘ You and your Lord may go and fight…” After that Sad bin Maaz stood up and submitted:
“ Allah’s Messenger! We have believed in you…We will go (for
fighting) whereever you go…By Allah Who has sent you with truth,
we will even jump into the sea with you and that none of us will retreat.
...We are quite perfect in fighting. We hope that Allah may show you
our such deeds (during fighting) that you will be satisfied. Kindly take
us along with you for fighting..”
