Battle of Badr: Difference between revisions

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The battle of Badr was the first great battle in the military career of the prophet Muhammad according to the [[sira]]. Again according to the sira it took place in the month of Ramadan in the second year of the hijra (circa 624 AD). It was a watershed moment in the prophetic career, where some of the prophet's greatest enemies from Mecca were killed or humiliated. It was also interpreted as a sign of divine favor by the Muslim community in Mecca, with angels including [[Jibreel (Angel Gabriel)|Jibra'il]] reportedly taking part. The run-up to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath were also the [[Asbab al-Nuzul (Revelational Circumstances of the Quran)|backdrop of the revelation]] for many verses in the Qur'an including the majority of surat al-anfal, the sura of war booty or voluntary gifts. The aftermath of the battle would see Muhammad put in place new rules around the division of [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Muhammad and Booty|booty]]. The defeat of the Meccans would harden their resolve to resist Muhammad as well as creating several blood fueds that the Meccans felt needed avenging, ultimately culminating in the defeat of Muhammad and the Muslims at the [[Battle of Uhud]]. For Muhammad, the battle would solidify his reputation as a commander and strengthen the faith of his community.  

==Background==

The victorious Muslims took much booty. The Muslim warrior who had stayed behind to guard Muhammad felt that it was unfair to allow the warriors who had advanced against the Meccans to keep all of the booty which had fallen into his hands, and according to the sira this prompted the revelation of surat al-anfal. Many prisoners were taken though many of them were also executed. Muhammad ordered that Abu Jahl be specifically found and executed. He was found almost dead and finished off. Several of the prisoners who had been harsh against Islam or were hated by the Muslims were executed. Muhammad stayed in Badr for three days after the battle and mocked the dead, saying "O people of the pit, have you found what God threatened is true? For I have found what my Lord promised me is true."<ref name="HishāmGuillaume1967">{{cite book | editor1 = ʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām | editor2 = Alfred Guillaume | author1 = ʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām | author2 = I. Ishaq | author3 = Muḥammad Ibn Isḥāq | date = 1967 | title = The Life of Muhammad | edition = 8 | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 305 | isbn = 978-0-19-636033-1 | oclc = 1024062464 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T1skAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> When executing a prisoner who asked who would take care of his children, Muhammad's answer was simple: "hell".<ref name="HishāmGuillaume19672">{{cite book | editor1 = ʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām | editor2 = Alfred Guillaume | author1 = ʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām | author2 = I. Ishaq | author3 = Muḥammad Ibn Isḥāq | date = 1967 | title = The Life of Muhammad | edition = 8 | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 308 | isbn = 978-0-19-636033-1 | oclc = 1024062464 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T1skAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> Some of the prisoners were ransomed back for a lot of money to the Meccans. The Meccans were highly demoralized by the loss of so many of their great warriors. The faith of Muslims was restored thanks to the victory and the aide of the angels. His status was also raised in Medina thanks to the victory amongst the Jews and the unconverted Arabs.

[[Category:Jihad]]

[[Category:Sacred history]]

[[Category:Sirah]]