Table of contents
- Quran states
- The Number of Combatants and the Prophet’s Prayer at Badr
- The Foretelling of the Disbelievers’ Death Sites and the Five Sciences
- The Dead Can Hear
- The Killing of Abu Jahl
- The Honorable Names of the Martyrs of Badr
- A Son in the Highest Paradise
- The Glad Tidings of Paradise for Participants of the Battle of Badr
- The Lessons from the Battle of Truth and Falsehood
The battle between truth and falsehood has been ongoing since the dawn of time, manifesting in various forms throughout history. Among these is the Battle of Badr, Islam’s first major conflict. This monumental battle took place between the polytheists of Mecca and the Muslims on the 17th of Ramadan in the second year after the Hijra (migration to Medina), a Friday that witnessed an extraordinary event. The believers, embodying patience, perseverance, and reliance on God, emerged victorious with divine support. The Almighty’s words reflect this:
﴿وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَّاَنْتُمْ اَذِلَّةٌ١ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ۰۰۱۲۳ اِذْ تَقُوْلُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۠ اَلَنْ يَّكْفِيَكُمْ اَنْ يُّمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِثَلٰثَةِ اٰلٰفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ مُنْزَلِيْنَؕ۰۰۱۲۴ بَلٰۤى١ۙ اِنْ تَصْبِرُوْا وَتَتَّقُوْا وَيَاْتُوْكُمْ مِّنْ فَوْرِهِمْ هٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِخَمْسَةِ اٰلٰفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ مُسَوِّمِيْنَ﴾([1])
“Indeed, Allah helped you at Badr when you were weak. So fear Allah; perhaps you will be thankful. When you said to the believers, ‘Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down? Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy comes rushing at you, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]'” (Quranic Verses). “Thus, the believers were victorious on the day of Badr, aided by five thousand angels as promised by Allah, leading to the defeat of the disbelievers.” ([2])
: ﴿اِذْ تَسْتَغِيْثُوْنَ۠ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ اَنِّيْ مُمِدُّكُمْ بِاَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ مُرْدِفِيْنَ﴾([3])
Quran states
Another verse from the Quran states: “When you sought help from your Lord, and He responded to you, ‘Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.'” This verse highlights the believers’ appeal to God in their time of need and His gracious response.
«اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ حُفَاةٌ فَاحْمِلْهُم، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ عُرَاةٌ فَاكْسُهُم، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ جِيَاعٌ فَأَشْبِعْهُمْ»
Observing their state of destitution, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed: “O Allah, they are barefoot, so carry them; they are naked, so clothe them; they are hungry, so feed them.” Allah granted victory on the day of Badr, and when the Muslims returned, they were in a better state, with provisions and mounts, a testament to their faith and God’s support.
The Number of Combatants and the Prophet’s Prayer at Badr
Believers of the Islamic community, it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim that on the day of Badr, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ saw that the disbelievers numbered one thousand, while his companions numbered three hundred and nineteen (with some reports stating three hundred and thirteen). The Prophet, with outstretched hands, prayed to God,
«اللّهُمَّ أَنْجِزْ لِي مَا وَعَدْتَنِي! اللّهُمَّ آتِ مَا وَعَدْتَنِي! اللّهُمَّ إنّكَ إِنْ تُهْلِكْ هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ لَا تُعْبَدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ!»
“O Allah, fulfill what You have promised me! O Allah, grant what You have promised me! O Allah, if this group (of Muslims) perishes, You will not be worshipped on earth.” His earnest prayers continued until his cloak fell from his shoulders, at which point Abu Bakr approached, reassured him of God’s imminent support,
﴿اِذْ تَسْتَغِيْثُوْنَ۠ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ اَنِّيْ مُمِدُّكُمْ بِاَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ مُرْدِفِيْنَ﴾([4])
Reflecting God’s promise of assistance through the descent of angels.
More than fourteen centuries have passed since the Battle of Badr, yet its memory continues to invigorate the faith of Muslims. The site of Badr still bears witness to the disbelievers’ defeat and the Muslims’ triumph. The decline of Muslims in contemporary times, despite having resources, is attributed to the absence of the spirit that prevailed at Badr.
“Despite the lavishness among the disbelievers’ ranks, including ample entertainment and luxuries whenever they camped by water, erecting tents and accompanied by singing girls and instruments of pleasure, the Muslims had not even a single tent. The Companions made a shelter from palm leaves and branches for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, where now stands a mosque.”
Read More: The Concept of Jihad in Islam
The Foretelling of the Disbelievers’ Death Sites and the Five Sciences
Respected readers, narrating the events of the battle, Sayyidna Anas bin Malik mentions that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ held a council upon receiving news of Abu Sufyan’s approach. Sayyidna Sa’ad bin Ubadah stood and declared, “By the One in Whose hand my soul rests! If you order us to plunge our horses into the sea, we will comply. And if you command us to strike at their chests up to Bark Ghumad [the furthest city in Yemen from Medina], we will do so!” The narrator adds that when the Prophet ﷺ called people to jihad, they marched with him to the battlefield of Badr. There, the Prophet ﷺ pointed out, “This is where so-and-so will fall,” placing his hand on various spots on the ground. It was reported that none fell except at the exact places the Prophet ﷺ had indicated, dying exactly where he had foretold.
This reveals that the Noble Prophet ﷺ was divinely informed of each individual’s time of death, their place of death, and the manner in which they would die, whether as disbelievers or believers. This knowledge is among the five sciences that were manifested during the Battle of Badr.
The Dead Can Hear
It is mentioned in Sahih Muslim that Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidna Umar Farooq Azam narrates the Prophet ﷺ showed us the spots where the disbelievers of Badr would fall, stating,
«هَذَا مَصْرَعُ فُلَانٍ غَداً، إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ»
“If Allah wills, so-and-so will be killed here tomorrow.” Wherever the Prophet had indicated, their bodies were found. Following his command, their corpses were thrown into a well.
«يَا فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ وَيَا فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ! هَلْ وَجَدْتُمْ مَا وَعَدَكُمُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ حَقّاً؟ فَإِنِّي قَدْ وَجَدْتُ مَا وَعَدَنِي اللهُ حَقّاً»
The Prophet ﷺ then approached and addressed the deceased by name, asking if they found Allah’s and His messenger’s promises to be true, as he had found Allah’s promise to him to be true. Sayyidna Umar asked why the Prophet ﷺ spoke to bodies devoid of souls, to which he replied,
«مَا أَنْتُمْ بِأَسْمَعَ لِـمَا أَقُولُ مِنْهُمْ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَرُدُّوا عَلَيَّ شَيْئاً»([5])
“You do not hear what I say any better than they, but they cannot respond to me.” This indicates that even the dead can hear, regardless of their faith, though they lack the power to respond. The capacity for hearing is even more pronounced among the prophets and saints.
The Killing of Abu Jahl
During the Battle of Badr, where many companions showed valor, young boys also made their mark. Sayyidna Abdur Rahman bin Auf recounts standing in the ranks when he found himself between two young Ansar boys, wishing for the company of strong warriors. One whispered to him, asking if he could identify Abu Jahl, expressing a vow to not part from him until one of them died if he found him insulting the Prophet ﷺ. Abdur Rahman admired the boy’s bravery. The other boy expressed a similar desire. When Abdur Rahman pointed out Abu Jahl among the people, the boys charged and killed him. They then reported their deed to the Prophet ﷺ, who inquired who had killed Abu Jahl. Each claimed the deed, and without cleaning their swords, the Prophet ﷺ declared, “Both of you have killed him!” These brave individuals were Sayyidna Mu’adh bin Afra and Sayyidna Mu’adh bin Jamuh.
It’s noted that both heroes shared the name Mu’adh or Mu’awwiz, being maternal cousins with their mother named Afra, and having different fathers, thus their lineage is traced through their mother, which is a correct form of identification as both were related through her.
The Honorable Names of the Martyrs of Badr
In this significant battle, fourteen blessed individuals were martyred, achieving a high status and rank. Among them, six were Muhajirun (emigrants) and eight were Ansar (helpers). The names of the Muhajirun martyrs are:
1. Sayyidna Ubaidah bin Harith Muttalbi
2. Sayyidna Muhja’
3. Sayyidna Umair bin Abi Waqqas
4. Sayyidna Aqil bin Abi Bukair
5. Sayyidna Dhush-shimalain Umair
6. Sayyidna Safwan bin Bayda.
The names of the Ansar martyrs are:
7. Sayyidna Awf bin Afra
8. Sayyidna Muawwiz bin Afra
9. Sayyidna Haritha bin Suraqa
10. Sayyidna Yazid bin Harith
11. Sayyidna Rafi’ bin Mualla
12. Sayyidna Umair bin Hamam
13. Sayyidna Sa’d bin Khaythama
14. Sayyidna Mubashir bin Abdul Mundhir, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Thirteen of these noble martyrs were buried in the field of Badr, but Sayyidna Ubaidah bin Harith passed away at the location of “Safra” on the return from Badr, so his noble grave is at Safra. ([6])
A Son in the Highest Paradise
It is narrated by Sayyidna Anas that Sayyida Rabia binti Barra, the mother of Sayyidna Haritha bin Suraqa, who was martyred on the day of Badr by an unidentified arrow, asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about her son’s fate. If he was in Paradise, she would remain patient; otherwise, she would grieve profoundly. The Prophet ﷺ reassured her,
«يَا أُمَّ حَارِثَةَ! إِنَّهَا جِنَانٌ فِي الجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ ابْنَكِ أَصَابَ الفِرْدَوْسَ الأَعْلَى»([7])
saying, “O mother of Haritha! Paradise comprises many gardens, and be assured, your son has attained the highest paradise, Al-Firdaus.”
The Glad Tidings of Paradise for Participants of the Battle of Badr
Beloved companions of the Islamic community! The companions displayed such exemplary obedience and loyalty in this battle that history struggles to present parallels. Their sacrifices for Islam are beyond what words can convey. In light of their sacrifices, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke highly of their virtues. In one hadith,
«لَعَلَّ اللهَ اطَّلَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ، فَقَالَ: اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ، فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمُ الجَنَّةُ، أَوْ: فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ»([8])
he stated that Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said, “Do as you wish, for Paradise is guaranteed for you, or I have forgiven you.”
The Lessons from the Battle of Truth and Falsehood
Dear friends, brothers, and elders! This inspiring battle of truth versus falsehood offers numerous messages and instructive guidance, particularly relevant today as Islam and Muslims face challenges from all sides. Despite the global efforts to weaken Muslims and infringe upon their rights, the situation demands divine intervention. Just as the participants of Badr were advised, holding steadfast to piety and perseverance is crucial for divine help to descend.
Muslims cannot stand against falsehood without embodying piety, patience, and sincere zeal. However, when Muslims are adorned with these qualities, no force of falsehood can prevail against them. This teaching was given by Allah to the pure souls of the companions, who were always eager to learn the ways of piety under the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This not only strengthens one’s connection with Allah but also fortifies faith and certainty.
([2]) “تفسیر خزائن العرفان”پ4، آل عمران، زيرِ آيت: 125، 129۔
([4]) “صحيح مسلم” كتاب الجهاد والسِير، ر: 4588، صـ781، 782.
([5]) المرجع نفسه، كتاب الجنّةِ وصفة نعِيمها وأهلها، ر: 7222، صـ1244، 1245.
([7]) “صحيح البخاري” باب مَن أتاه سهم غرب فقتله، ر: 2809، صـ465.