Ghazwa –e-Badr (battle of Badr) is the day that marks the the unbeatable glory of Muslim’s valor and fearlessness. The day when Allah’s help descended towards its pious people who left their homes, families and properties just for the sake and pleasure of Allah, the Lord of the Universe.
The battle of Badr is one of the great events of human history that occurred on Friday, the 17th Day of blessed month of Ramadan in the second year after migration from Makkah to Medinah (624 CE).
It deeply affected men’s ideas and conduct. The battle of Badr deserves a place in any history of that period. It was the original cause of all the battles that followed.
Reasons
Many problems lead to the battle of the Badr,
The Uunfriendly Quraysh:
The Prophet S.A.W and his companion had migrated to Madinah. They stayed there peacefully; preaching and inviting more people to Islam but Quraysh remained hostile to them and rapid spread of Islam increased their anxiety. They, therefore, always looked for a chance to cause trouble and destroy the resettled Muslims of Madinah.
The jealousy of the Jews:
As Islam began to spread fast some Jewish monks and learned Rabbis like Abdullah ibn Salam embraced Islam. This inflamed the jealousy of the jews.
There were many other reasons as well which includes Power-seeking people like Abdullah ibn Ubayy became very unfriendly towards the Prophet S.A.W and his companions as he was abondoned to be crowned as Prophet S.A.W arrived in Madinah which aroused enmity towards the Muslims. The Quraysh prepare for an actual war, The Quraysh joined hands with Abdullah Bin Ubayy, the hypocrite.
In the month of Shaban 2H, the Muslims learned that a great trade caravan had started on its return journey from Syria and would be passing Madinah a few weeks later. It was reported that merchandise in this caravan of 1000 camels was worth 50,000 Dinars. About 70 men accompanied it led by Abu Sufyan bin Harb, one of the worst enemies of Islam in Makkah then.
Abu Sufyan realized at an early stage that the Muslims were planning to attack his caravan which increased his anxiety. He sent a fast-riding courier to Makkah with an urgent request to rescue the caravan.
On receipt of Sufyan’s message, the Makkans led by Abu Jahl, set about raising a powerful army consisting about a 1000 armoured soldiers, seven hundred camels and over one hundred horses. However, the caravan reaches Makkah safely but the Muslim army consisting only 313 faithful Muslims 70 camels and two horses.
Faced by a powerful army, more than thrice their number, the Muslims now held a council of war. The Propher S.A.W spent the whole night that fell between the sixteenth and the seventeenth of Ramadan, in prayer.
The Prophet S.A.W turned towards Qiblah, raised his hands and earnestly called on Allah, “O Allah! Of this little band of those, who have surrendered themselves to You, is destroyed, You will not be worshipped on earth…..”
A sudden rainfall was rejoiced as a sign of favor from Allah which refreshed the men and laid the dust. It made firm the soft sand of the valley which enabled the Muslims to plant their feet firmly.
The battle opened with single combats between Utbah, his son Walid and his brother Shaybah from Quraysh and Hamzah R.A, Ali R.A and Ubaydah R.A from Muslims who killed Utbah and Walid with ease while Shaybah wounded Ubaydah R.A. “Umair bin Al-Humam was the first martyr on the day of Badr.”
Two young boys, the sons of Afra, an Ansari woman killed Abu Jahl. The Muslims won the battle by the help of Allah, in achieving this victory, the Muslims lost fourteen men: six immigrants and eight Ansars.