The strategy of the Holy Prophet in the battle of Badr has been stated in the commentary under Verse No. 216 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It has been reproduced, as under, for ready reference.

STRATEGY of HOLY PROPHET in the BATTLE OF BADR

The battle of Badr: (It took place on 17th Ramadan of second Al-Hijrah.)

[The following points / events may be noted.]

1. After migrating to Madina, the Holy Prophet entered into a Peace Treaty (called the Treaty of Madina) wherein it was particularly resolved that the Muslims and the Jews of Madina would have the complete religious freedom and that they would collectively protect Madina from any outside aggression.

2. The Holy Prophet entered into similar Peace Agreements with the surrounding tribes of the Jews.

3. The Quraish could not tolerate such developments. They through the conspiracy of Abdullah bin Ubayy (the dangerous hypocrite, who was going to be declared as the King of Madina before the arrival of the Holy Prophet) as well as with their Jewish friends (who hated Islam) started sending their armed caravans in the suburbs of Madina so as to frighten them. Such armed men of Quraish hovered around Madina for killing and robing the Muslims coming on the way, driving away their cattle, and creating harassment amongst them.

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 toattack 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) where ever 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..”

The Holy Prophet was quite pleased with Sad bin Maaz, and then he addressed to his companions:

“ Let us go (and fight Abu Jahl) and be happy that Allah has

promised me to select one of the two groups of the enemy

(i.e. either of Abu Jahl or of Abu Sufyan) (for victory). (8:7)

By Allah! Right at this time, I am seeing the places of death

(separation) of the people of the enemy (i.e. of Abu Jahl).”

(The Holy Prophet selected the huge army of Abu Jahl for fighting and set aside the small caravan led by Abu Sufyan)

9. The Holy Prophet reached Badr before Abu Jahl and occupied the the fountains as well as the high strategic points of the valley from where he could force the enemy to face his arrows and onslaught and also to make his cavalry (horsemen) ineffective.

10. When Abu Jahl reached Badr, he had no choice but to stay at the lower part of the valley, which became muddy, sticky and slippery when the rainfall occurred at night. The cavalry of the enemy, thus, could not move ahead. And when they tried to launch an overall attack, they had to face the arrows of the Muslims.

11. The enemy was tired as well as exhausted with thirst, and was thus, not in a position to withstand the onslaught of the Muslims.

12. On accepting the challenge of Quraish for an individual fight, Hamza and Ali straight away quite quickly killed their strong and famous rivals. This further greatly demoralized the enemy.

13. When an over all fight took place, the Muslims crushed them severely killing seventy of their ring leaders and holding seventy of them as captives. The enemy was, thus severely defeated with their Commander, Abu Jahl crushed and killed.

[Zia-ul-Quran, Encyclopedia on Seerah, Ibn Hashsham, Ibn Khaldun,

and Sahih Al-Bukhari]

[ Note: See the Verses of Al-Quran regarding the Battle of Badr under:

3:123;8:1-21,39-75.]

IMPORTANT NOTE:

1. In the Battle of Badr, the enemy was 1000 in number, fully equipped. Almighty Allah, therefore, supported the believers with 1000 angels, as stated in Verse No. 9 of Surah Al-Anfal, and stated below:

“ Remember, when you prayed to your Lord (for help), and He

responded: ‘Surely, I will help you with 1000 angels (well

disciplined and descending) row after row.”

2. In the Battle of Uhud, the enemy was 3000 in number, heavily equipped against the ill- equipped 1000 Muslims. And when Abdullah bin Ubayy separated away with his 300 companions, Almighty Allah supported the believers with 3000 - 5000 angels, as stated in 3:124-125.

(See Tafheem-ul-Quran under 3:124)

3. In the battle of Badr, 70 men of the enemy were killed and 70 were made captives. The angel Gabriel on that occasion informed the Holy Prophet to let his Companions know that if they decided to set the captives (70 in number) free on ransom, the next year (in the battle of Uhud) 70 Muslims would be martyred. The Companions of the Holy Prophet liked to be martyred (in Uhud) against 70 captives to be freed by them. [See Tirmizi - Mishkat:3795]

4. Seventy Companions of the Holy Prophet were martyred in the Battle of Uhud.

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