Battle of Badr

The Battle of BADR Battle which turned the course of history

There has already been a sign for you (O Jews) in the two armies that met ( in combat i.e. the battle of Badr). One was fighting in the Cause of ALLAH, and as for the other, (they) were disbelievers. The (the believers) saw then (the disbelievers) with their own eyes twice their number ( although they were thrice their number). And ALLAH supports with His Victory whom He wills. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand. (Quran 3:13)

Islamic history is replete with battles that were fought for the cause of islam and for establishing Allahs's sovereignty on earth.These battles were fought mainly during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Arabia when the enemies of Islam were out to destroy it as it threatened their paganistic and hypocritical ways of life and sought to establish the true concept of God and justice on earth.

When the holy Prophet started to propagate Islam among the Pagans of Makkah, he had to face a lot of obstacles,difficulties and atrocities at the hands of his own tribesman,the Quraish. but he continued his mission against all odds in Makkah for 13 years and tolerated all kinds of difficulties, problems and even persecution.

Finally Allah asked the Holy Prophet to migrate to Madinah and continue his mission there.

But the machinations of the enemies of Islam and muslims persisted even after the Holy Prophet and His Companions and followers migrated to Madinah, which is 250miles of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

In Madinah this little group of Makkah Muslims, with there friends there, organised themselves into a God-fearing community.But they were constantly in danger of being attacked by the pagan enemies in alliance with some disaffected elements, such as the Jews and hypocrities.

Finally, a battle was imposed on the Muslims in less than two years after their migration to Madinah on the plains of Badr, which was till then an unfamiliar place 160miles south-west of Madinah. This battle is known as the Battle of Badr. It was fought on the 17th of Ramdan in 2 AH (Anno Hagirae).

This was, in fact, the first battle between Islam and paganism and is of crucial importance in that it not only led to the triumph of Truth over Falsehood but also changed the balance of power existing at that time in the Arabian peninsula in favour of Islam and thus turned the course of history of the entire world.

The outcome of the battle, on the one hand, paved the way for the establishment of a large Islamic society and, on the other, ultimately helped in the spread of Islam's message of peace, human brotherhood and subservience to One God in every part of the world.

The chieftains of the Quraish of Makkah smarting from an unsuccessful attempt to kill the Holy Prophet during the last year of his stay in Makkah - a plan which caused his Divinely ordained migration to Madinah - were desperately looking for an opportunity to wage a war on the Muslims who had gathered in Madinah.

The opportunity was provided in Shaaban 2AH by the mischief of a messenger of Abu Sufyan, a Makkan chieftain, who was leading a richly laden caravan from Syria to Makkah. Abu Sufyan had, in fact, called for armed aid from Makkah for the safe passage of his caravan through the outskirts of Madinah. Abu Sufyans messenger created such a scene in Makkah that it infuriated the Makkan chieftains, so much so that they immediately declared a "war-like" situation in Makkah and decided to lead an army towards Madinah.

Their aim was not only to provide escort to the caravan and bring it back safely but also to eliminate what they perceived the constant threat to their caravans'route, by crushing the newly gathered rival forces in Madinah. For this purpose a large army was formed. Its purpose was to destroy the Islamic movement and silence the voice of the Messenger of peace and thus try to prove his declaration of being the Prophet of Allah false.

Against all odds the Muslims secured a brilliant victory by Allah's Will and many of the enemy leaders, including Abu Jahl, were killed. Among the unbelievers 70 people, including 20 top chieftains of the Makkan tribes, were killed while among the Muslims, 14 were martyred.

The Battle of Badr was a turning point in the history of Islam.The standard of Truth was established, never to be lowered again. It was a battle between Truth and Falsehood: the circumstances in which the holy Prophet and his companions were forced to migrate from Makkah to Madinah had been created by the Makkans themselves and the decision of the Quraish elders to eliminate the Holy Prophet itself a declaratin of war.

Before the confrontation, a big group of Muslims wanted to attack the caravan of Abu Sufyan instead of taking on the makkan army. But Allahs's will was against it and He wanted the confrontation and war between Truth and Falsehood, and that the Muslims should come face to face with their enemies, the Pagans of Makkah, so that He could prove what Truth is. Allah wanted one group of the enemy to be killed and the other to be taken captive, to neutralie and power and lower the false dignity and Pride of Quraish. Thus Allah wanted to raise the banner of Islam.

Referring to this, the Holy Quran says:

"And (remember) when ALLAH promised you (Muslims) one of the two parties (of the enemy i.e. either the army or the caravan) that it should be yours; you wished that the one not armed (the caravan) should be yours, but ALLAH willed to justify the truth by his Words and to cut off the roots of the disbelievers (i.e. in the battle of Badr)." (Quran 8:7).

to be continued ...