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The emigration of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W)
to Medina had turned the enemies from Mecca more hostile, and they
constantly kept on thinking how they could overthrow him, and put an
end to Islam. The Meccans and their allies started to bring their
raids to the very outskirts of Medina, destroying the fruit trees of
the Muslims and carrying away their flocks.
The winter of 624 AD saw the invasion of
Medina by a strong force of Meccans led by Abu Jahl consisting of
all army of 1000 strong with 700 camels and 100 horses.
Receiving information about this
force, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) decided to meet the enemy outside
Medina at a place called as Badr (200 Miles from Mecca and 80 Miles
from Medina). He set out with three hundred and thirteen (313) of
his followers. This small force was marshaled out of Medina with the
youthful Ali holding the Banner of the Prophet (S.A.W).
The battle of Badr was the most
important among the Islamic battles of Destiny. For the first time
the followers of the new faith were put into a serious test. Had
victory been the lot of the pagan army while the Islamic Forces were
still at the beginning of their developments, the faith of Islam
could have come to an end.
No one was aware of the importance of
the outcome of the Battle as the Prophet (S.A.W.) himself. We might
read the depth of his anxiety in his prayer before the beginning of
the Battle when he stood up supplicating his Lord:
"God this is Quraish. It has come
with all its arrogance and boastfulness, trying to discredit Thy
Apostle. God, I ask Thee to humiliate them tomorrow. God, if this
Muslim band will perish today, Thou shall not be worshipped."
Warfare in those days followed a
different pattern. Before the general battle began, a number of
duels were fought between the leading warriors on each side. When
the Muslims reached the fertile vale of Badr, a favorite watering
place and camping ground on the caravan route, three stations
northwards from Mecca, the Prophet (S.A.W) ordered a halt, taking up
a suitable position near a stream of fresh water, to await the
arrival of the infidel army. It was on the next day, Friday, 17th
Ramazan 2 AH or January 13th 624 AD that the enemy, blowing their
trumpets, approached the Muslims, and both forces were arrayed in
battle.
Three of the infidel warriors, Utbah,
the father-in-law of Abu Sufyan, his brother Shaybah, and Al-Walid
son of Utbah came out of the ranks and arrogantly challenged the
Muslims. Three Ansars of Medina stepped forward to meet this
challenge. This greatly enraged the Meccans who refused to combat
with the Ansars saying, "We have not come all this way to cross arms
with the Medinites, against whom we bear no grudge. We challenge the
people of Mecca who have the courage to defy us." Upon this Ali and
Ubaydah, cousins of the Prophet, and
Hamzah his uncle, responded to the challenge. In the words of
Col. Bodley, "At the taunt of the Quriashite, Ali dashed out of the
Muslim ranks glittering in breast-plate and helmet. He was soon
followed by Ubaydah bin al-Harith, a paternal cousin of Muhammad and
Hamzah who wore an ostrich feather in his Cuirass. The three
companions were thus closely related to Muhammad and fulfilled the
Quraish for Hashimite (the clan of the Prophet) blood!"
The three duels were as rapid as they
were murderous. Hamzah killed Shaybah, While Ali killed Al-Walid.
Ubaydah was mortally wounded, but before he fell, Ali and Hamzah
were able to come to his rescue. Hamzah hurled himself at Utbah, and
with a sweep of his sword cut off his head. In a few minutes three
of Mecca's most important warriors had been sent to find out the
truth about the hell which Muhammad (S.A.W) had promised them!"
Ubaydah was the first martyr at this battle. He died after he lost
his leg.
With a cry of rage three more Meccans
darted from under Abu Jahl's banner and assailed the Muslim
champions (Ali and Hamzah). They too went down before the sword of
Islam. A further three were dealt with the same fate. There was a
moment of hesitancy among the Quraishites. Muhammad (S.A.W) did not
miss his advantage. With a sharp order he sent his soldiers charging
into a general attack.
When the general offensive began,
hundreds of companions participated in the battle and offered
sacrifices and pleased their Lord. But the members of the house of
the Messenger (S.A.W.) distinguished themselves. Ali's endeavor was
unique at this battle. When Hanthala Ibn Abu Sufyan faced him, Ali
liquefied his eyes with one blow from his sword. He annihilated Al
Auss Ibn Saeed, and met Tuaima Ibn Oday and transfixed him with his
spear, saying "You shall not dispute with us in God after today."
The Messsnger (S.A.W.) took a handful
of gravel when the battle was extremely heated. He threw it at the
faces of the pagans saying "May your faces be disfigured. God,
terrify their hearts and invalidated their feet." The pagans ran
away, turning their faces to no one.
The line of the Quraish wavered and a
number of their bravest and noblest fell; they took to flight
ignominiously, and in their haste to escape they threw away their
armor and abandoned their transport animals with all their camp and
equipage. Seventy of the bravest Quraish were slain and forty-five
taken prisoners, and their commander, Abu Jahl and Hanzala Ibn Abu
Sofyan, were amongst the slain.
Though it was the first engagement of
the youthful Ali, he showed surprising results and was praised by
one and all. He killed no less than sixteen-though some historians
give him credit for thirty-six of the bravest and the most prominent
of the Quraish army.
This battle laid the foundation of
the Islamic State and made out of the Muslims a force to be reckoned
with by the dwellers of the Arabic Peninsula.
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