Expedition of Badr al-Maw'id
Invasion of Badr | |||||||
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| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Muslims |
Quraysh | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ali ibn Abi Talib | Abu Sufyan ibn Harb | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1500 fighters and 10 horsemen[2] | 2000 footmen and 50 horsemen[2] |
The Expedition of Badr al-Maw'id was the third time Muhammad led an expedition in Badr. Modern historians date the event to October 625,[3] though several alternative dates are found in primary sources.[4]
A year after the Battle of Uhud, it was time for Muslims to meet the polytheists and start war again in order to determine which of the two parties was worthy of survival, according to Muslim scholar Safiur Rahman al Mubarakpuri.[5][2]
The invasion helped the Muslims regain their military reputation, their dignity and managed to impose their presence over the whole of
Background
According to
Invasion
According to the
Abu Sufyan’s forces comprised 2000 footmen and 50 horsemen. They reached Mar Az-Zahran, some distance from
"O tribe of Quraish! Nothing will improve the condition you are in but a fruitful year — a year during which your animals feed on plants and bushes and give you milk to drink. And I see that this is a rainless year, therefore I am returning now, and I recommend you to return with me." Ibn Hisham 2/209[2]
His army were also possessed of the same fears and apprehensions, for they readily obeyed him without the least hesitation.
The Muslims, who were then at Badr, stayed for eight days waiting for their enemy. They took advantage of their stay by selling goods and earning double as much the price out of it. When the idolaters declined to fight, the balance of powers shifted to rest in favour of the Muslims, who thus regained their military reputation, their dignity and managed to impose their presence over the whole of
Names of invasion
This invasion had many names. It has been called ‘Badr the Appointment’, ‘Badr, the Second’, ‘Badr, the Latter’ or ‘Badr Minor’.[2]
Islamic primary sources
Quran 3:173-176
Quran 3:173-176 was reportedly divinely revealed to Muhammad during this event.[6] It states:
Those to whom the people said: Surely men have gathered against you, therefore fear them, but this increased their faith, and they said: Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector.[Quran 3:173]
And they returned with Grace and bounty from Allah: no harm ever touched them: For they followed the good pleasure of Allah: And Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded[Quran 3:173]
It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: Be ye not afraid of them, but fear Me, if ye have Faith[Quran 3:173]
Let not those grieve thee who rush headlong into Unbelief: Not the least harm will they do to Allah: Allah's plan is that He will give them no portion in the Hereafter, but a severe punishment.
The commentary of Ibn Abbas on verse 3:173 is as follows:
It was also revealed about them: (Those unto whom men said) said to Nu'aym Ibn Mas'ud al-Ashja'i: (Lo! the people) Abu Sufyan and his men (have gathered against you) at the Lutaymah, the latter being a market near Mecca, (therefore fear them) fear going out to fight them. (But) this only (increased the faith of them) emboldened them even more (and they cried: Allah is sufficient for us!) Allah is sufficient to give victory. (Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!) our trust is in Allah.
[Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs, on 3:173] [9]
Biographical literature
This event is mentioned in
Hadith literature
Muhammad al-Bukhari mentioned in his hadith collection Sahih Bukhari:
'Allah is Sufficient for us and He Is the Best Disposer of affairs," was said by Abraham when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them," but it only increased their faith, and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us)." (3.173)Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:627
See also
- List of battles of Muhammad
- Military career of Muhammad
- Muslim–Quraysh War
- Battle of Badr
Notes
- ^ Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Safiur (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 192.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Muir, William (1861), The life of Mahomet, Smith, Elder & Co, pp. 220–222.
- ^ Watt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford At The Clarendon Press. p. 340.
- JSTOR 610242.
- ^ Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Safiur (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 192.
- ^ a b c Muir, William (1861), The life of Mahomet, Smith, Elder & Co, p. 222. See footnote.
- ^ Tafsir ibn Kathir on 3:172-176 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, tafsir.com
- ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:627
- ^ Ibn Abbas, Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs on 3:173, Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (archive)
- ^ a b Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Safiur (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 193.
- ^ "Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum - The Sealed Nectar Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine". Dar-us-Salam Publications.