The Battle of Badr

The Battle of Badr

This event, which took place following the Prophet’s military maneuvers and the threat against the Quraysh trade route, was the first complete war between Muslims and the unbelievers. As we have seen, in the month of Jum¡d¡ al-ªkhir, the Holy Prophet chased Quraysh’s caravan—headed by Ab£-Sufy¡n—which was heading towards Damascus up to the land of Dh¡t al-`Ushayrah but he could not catch them. By sending spies to the district of Damascus, he knew about the caravan's return.[1] From an economic point of view, this is said to be one thousand and the worth of the merchandise is estimated as high as fifty-thousand D¢n¡rs. All Quraysh people had their shares in this investment.[2]

The natural route of the caravan crossed the district of Badr.[3] In order to confiscate the goods,[4] the Holy Prophet had three hundred and thirteen troops.[5] With the minimum amount of ammunition,[6] he headed for Badr. On his way back from Damascus, Ab£-Sufy¡n became aware of the Holy Prophet's decision and sent a messenger to Mecca asking for help.[7] He changed his direction to the shores of the Red Sea and speedily got the caravan out of the danger zone.[8] Upon Ab£-Sufy¡n's call, nine hundred and fifty soldiers[9] left Mecca towards Medina to help the caravan. Ab£-Sufy¡n's obstinacy led his troops to the battle. While Muslims were looking for the signs of the Quraysh caravan, the Holy Prophet became aware of the caravan's arrival at Badr. They had to decide on the spot. This decision was hard to make because Muslims had time to confiscate the caravan, not to be involved in a war the troops of which were three times more numerous than theirs. If they decided to go back, they would lose the effects of their military maneuvers and the enemy would chase them and attack Medina. So, a military council was held in which the Holy Prophet sought consult of Muslims in general and An¥¡r in particular. Miqd¡d's zealous speech and Sa`d ibn `Ab¡dah’s enthusiastic encouragements brought forth the decision to fight.[10]

The war started on the seventeenth of Rama¤¡n.[11] At first, °amzah, `Ubaydah and `Al¢ killed Shaybah, `Utbah and Wal¢d Ibn `Utbah.[12] This was a hard blow over the chiefs of Quraysh.[13] Then, war broke out. The troops of Islam overcame and by noon, the battle ended with the defeat and retreat of the enemy troops. Out of the unbelievers’ troops, seventy were killed[14] and another seventy were taken as prisoners.[15] From the Muslim troops, only fourteen were martyred.[16]

Then, with the permission of the Holy Prophet, the prisoners were freed upon the payment of ransoms. Prisoners who were moneyless but literate were forced to teach ten Muslim individuals reading and writing to earn their freedom.[17] Later, the rest of the prisoners were freed thanks to the Holy Prophet's generosity.[18]