Events

• The battle was fought on the 18th of Ramadhan, 2 AH (624 C.E).

• The Prophet (pbuh) and a group of around 300 men set off to intercept a caravan led by Abu Sufyan. They had 2 horses and 70 camels.

• Abu Sufyan sent word to the Quraysh and an army of 1300 men was gathered.

• Abu Sufyan slipped past the ambush and sent word to the Quraysh to go back but Abu Jahl insisted they continue;

  • Some left leaving 1000 soldiers..

• The Prophet (pbuh) consulted his companions, and after getting reassurance from Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh, they went to meet the Quraysh army at Badr.

• The Prophet ﷺ camped at a water well nearest to the enemy, and filled up the other wells with sand so that they have no water.

• The Prophet prayed for success that night with so much reverence that Abu Bakr stopped him (for fear of his well-being), and told him that Allah will surely grant them victory.

• There was a light drizzle that night

  ˹Remember˺ when He caused drowsiness to overcome you, giving you serenity. And He sent down rain from the sky to purify you, free you from Satan’s whispers, strengthen your hearts, and make ˹your˺ steps firm. (Surah al-Anfaal, 8:11)

• The next day the battle started and ‘Ali, Hamza and ‘Ubaidah went out to fight and won their duels against Shaiba bin Rabi'a, 'Utba bin Rabi'a and Al-Walid bin 'Utba. (‘Ubaidah became the first martyr after losing his leg).

  These are two opposing groups that disagree about their Lord: as for the disbelievers, garments of Fire will be cut out for them and boiling water will be poured over their heads, (Surah al-Hajj, 22:19)

• The Quraysh saw the Muslims as few in number while the Quraysh looked few in number to the Muslims.

• God sent down 5000 angels to help the Muslims fight the Quraysh.

  "Indeed, Allah made you victorious at Badr when you were ˹vastly˺ outnumbered. So be mindful of Allah, perhaps you will be grateful. ˹Remember, O Prophet,˺ when you said to the believers, “Is it not enough that your Lord will send down a reinforcement of three thousand angels for your aid?” Most certainly, if you ˹believers˺ are firm and mindful ˹of Allah˺ and the enemy launches a sudden attack on you, Allah will reinforce you with five thousand angels designated ˹for battle˺." (Surah Ali 'Imran, 3:123–125)

• The Prophet (pbuh) threw a handful of pebbles, and said "May your faces be disfigured.", which blinded all the men of Quraysh.

  "And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them. And you threw not, [O Muhammad], when you threw, but it was Allah who threw that He might test the believers with a good test. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing." (Surah al-Anfaal, 8:17)

• Eventually the Makkans ran off. Abu Jahl was killed.

• Bilal is said to have killed his former master.

• 14 Muslims were killed.

• 70 from the Quraysh were killed while another 70 were taken prisoner;

  • The prisoners were treated well, and some paid a ransom for their freedom, by either paying money or teaching ten people how to read and write.

• The Prophet (pbuh) consulted with his Companions concerning the captives they had taken.

  • Abu Bakr, was of the view that they should accept a monetary ransom which would increase the Muslims' power, or teach 10 muslims how to read and write.
  • However, 'Umar lbn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, advised him (pbuh) to have them killed, because they were the leaders of those who deny the truth.

• As for the Prophet (pbuh), he was inclined toward the view expressed by Abu Bakr; hence, he ruled that they should be ransomed for a sum of money.

• However, verses from the Qur'an which were revealed subsequently reproached the Prophet (pbuh) for what he had done and supported the advice which had been offered by 'Umar (Al-Anfaal, 8:67-69)

  It is not fit for a prophet that he should take captives until he has thoroughly subdued the land. You ˹believers˺ settled with the fleeting gains of this world, while Allah’s aim ˹for you˺ is the Hereafter. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Al-Anfaal, 8:67-69).