The Battle of Badr

Setting out to intercept Abu Sufyan’s rich caravan with 300–317 poorly equipped men, the Muslims find that the caravan has escaped and an army of 1,000 from Makkah has come instead. The Helpers pledge to follow the Prophet ﷺ even into the sea. After a night of rain and prayer, the Muslims win a decisive victory: 14 Muslims are killed; 70 of Quraish are killed, among them Abu Jahl, and 70 taken prisoner.

As the book dates it: Friday 17 Ramadan, 2 A.H.

O Allah! Should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, You will no longer be worshipped.

Who was there

• ABAbu Bakr as-SiddiqThe Prophet’s close friend, who believed on the very first day of the call, hid with him in the cave of Thawr, and led the prayer in his last days.
• SMSa’d bin Mu’adhA clan chief of Madinah whose people accepted Islam with him; he was later asked to judge Banu Qurayzah.
• MAAl-Miqdad bin ‘AmrBefore Badr he promised that the Muslims would not say what Moses’ people said, ‘you and your Lord go and fight’.
• HAHamzah bin ‘Abdul-MuttalibThe Prophet’s uncle, a strong warrior whose Islam gave the Muslims new confidence; killed at Uhud.
• AT‘Ali bin Abi TalibThe Prophet’s young cousin, among the very first believers, who slept in his bed on the night of the Hijrah and later married Fatimah.
• U‘Ubaidah bin al-HarithAn early believer, sent out with Hamzah and ‘Ali for the single combats that opened Badr; he was badly wounded and died days later.
• AJAbu JahlThe bitterest enemy of the Muslims in Makkah, who planned the assassination attempt and was killed at Badr.
• ASAbu Sufyan bin HarbLeader of Quraish in the wars against the Muslims, who accepted Islam just before the Conquest of Makkah.
• UR‘Utbah bin Rabi’ahA chief of Quraish who offered the Prophet ﷺ wealth and power to stop; killed at Badr.
• AM‘Abdullah bin Mas’udAn early believer, present at Badr.
• MAMu’adh bin ‘AmrA young Helper who struck down Abu Jahl at Badr.
• MAMu’awwidh bin ‘Afra’A young Helper who fought Abu Jahl at Badr.