The battle of Badr

Why Badr Permission to fight had been given to the persecuted believers: "Permission is given to those who are fought, because they have been wronged" (meaning of verse 22:39). In the month of Ramadan in year 2 AH, a large caravan of Quraysh was returning from Syria, led by Abu Sufyaan. The Prophet ﷺ went out with a little over three hundred companions to intercept it: the emigrants' property had been seized in Makkah. Abu Sufyaan changed route and warned Makkah; Quraysh came out with an army of about a thousand men [À VÉRIFIER : nombres ; on cite souvent 313 musulmans].

The consultation The Muslims had not set out for a battle. The Prophet ﷺ consulted his companions. Al-Miqdaad ibn al-Aswad said: "We will not say to you what the people of Muusaa said: 'Go, you and your Lord, and fight'; we will fight on your right, on your left, in front of you and behind you", and the Prophet's ﷺ face lit up (Bukhari 3952). Then a leader of the Anṣaar answered on behalf of his people that, if he asked them to cross the sea, they would cross it with him (Muslim 1779, where it is Sa'd ibn 'Ubaada; Ibn Isḥaaq attributes it to Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh) [À VÉRIFIER : attribution]. According to Ibn Isḥaaq, Al-Ḥubaab ibn al-Mundhir then suggested moving the camp to control the wells, and the Prophet ﷺ accepted his advice [À VÉRIFIER : authenticité].

The supplication On the night before the battle, the Prophet ﷺ prayed at length. 'Umar relates that he raised his hands, facing the qibla, and called out: "O Allah, fulfil what You promised me! O Allah, if this small band of Muslims perishes, You will no longer be worshipped on earth", until his cloak fell from his shoulders; Abu Bakr put it back and reassured him. Allah revealed: "When you were calling on your Lord for help, He answered you: 'I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, one after another'" (meaning of verse 8:9; Muslim 1763).

The battle The fighting took place on Friday 17 Ramadan in year 2 (March 624) [À VÉRIFIER : jour]. Allah gave victory to the believers. Seventy men of Quraysh were killed, including Abu Jahl, and seventy were taken prisoner (Muslim 1763). Fourteen Muslims fell as martyrs [À VÉRIFIER : nombre].

The prisoners The Prophet ﷺ consulted Abu Bakr, who advised clemency and a ransom, and 'Umar, who advised severity; he chose Abu Bakr's view (Muslim 1763). Those who could not pay could free themselves by teaching ten children of Madinah to read and write (reported by Ahmad) [À VÉRIFIER : référence]. The prisoners were treated well: some related that their guards gave them the bread and made do with dates themselves [À VÉRIFIER : référence].

Exercise: before Badr, the Prophet ﷺ took every means (organisation, consultation, position) and then supplicated with all his strength. Choose a difficulty you are facing, and tonight make a sincere supplication, hands raised, after doing your part.

The text: Surah Aal 'Imraan (3), verse 123 وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنْتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢٣﴾

Meaning: "Allah had already helped you at Badr when you were weak. So be mindful of Allah, so that you may be grateful." The Qur'an recalls Badr to teach that victory comes from Allah, and that the right response to a blessing is piety and gratitude.

Arabic text: Tanzil Quran Text (Simple, version 1.0.2), © 2008-2010 Tanzil.net, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence, reproduced without any change (http://tanzil.net). Each verse is on its own line, followed by its number; the basmala, which the Tanzil file places at the start of the first verse, is written on its own line.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The Qur'an calls the day of Badr "the Day of Criterion" (yawm al-furqaan, meaning of verse 8:41): on that day truth was distinguished from falsehood. A small, poorly equipped band defeated an army three times its size. Verse 3:123 draws the lesson: "when you were weak". Victory does not come from numbers, but from Allah. Yet the Prophet ﷺ neglected no means: he consulted, listened to advice about the position, and organised the ranks. Then he supplicated with an intensity that worried Abu Bakr. Scholars see in this the balance of Islam: take the means, and rely on Allah alone. The consultation also shows his way of leading: he wanted the Anṣaar to commit themselves freely, since their pledge at Al-'Aqaba spoke only of protecting him in Madinah. And the treatment of the prisoners, freed for a ransom or for teaching writing, shows the value given to knowledge and mercy, even in war.

Lessons to draw from it • Consult those concerned before an important decision. • Accept good advice, even from a less well-known companion. • Take the means, then call on Allah with all one's heart. • Attribute success to Allah and respond with gratitude. • Keep justice and kindness, even towards a defeated enemy.

Key points to remember • Badr: 17 Ramadan in year 2; about 313 Muslims against about 1,000. • Al-Miqdaad (Bukhari 3952); the Anṣaar (Muslim 1779). • The supplication and the angels: 8:9 (Muslim 1763). • 3:123: "when you were weak". • The prisoners: ransom or teaching writing.

The main message At Badr, faith, consultation and supplication overcame numbers: do your part, consult, then entrust the matter to Allah, and thank Him for every victory.