(4 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
Loading ...1,550 views
The Battle of Badr was the first Muslim resistance against the Arab pagans. It was March 624, Muslim army consisting of “Ansars, host from Medina� and the Meccan exiles, against the powerful and arrogant Quraish, the lord of Mecca. This daring was not for pride, glory or kingship, this unequal battle was fought for a simple but magnificent belief, to worship Allah alone, “La Ilaha Illallah�. All negotiations with Mecca had failed; some of Muhammad’s followers were tortured and killed. Even a bid to Muhammad’s life was made.The Meccans assembled that day in great numbers, well equipped with armed fighters and 300 horses, numbering close to 1000 warriors. The believers, with 300 fighters, 70 camels and 2 horses didn’t had much to bank on except belief in Allah, Prophet and standing up for the noble cause. The Muslims stood confidently in a straight battle formation, patiently and sturdily. The Meccan spy went back to his masters saying he saw the “Muslim camels carrying death�, was dismissed as a dreamer. Victory over Muslims was certain, the confidence of Meccans rode high.
To the Arabs, pagan to the core, then for them there was no resurrection, no heaven or hell. A man was known through the glory of his ancestors and the genealogy chain, the virtue and strength of his tribe, and yes, through poems, man would live forever, made famous for his generosity and acts of bravery. Mecca housed the ancient Kaaba, and every year people from all Arabia would gather in Mecca for HAJJ, circumambulates by Kaaba and offer sacrifices. Though the Arabs believed in Allah as the supreme lord, they also worshipped many other deities. The Kaaba housed more than 360 idols, representing different gods for each occasion. It was pride in pre Islamic Arabia to bury daughters alive, alcoholism, killing and pillage was considered a part of life. The arid and harsh landscape of Arabia worked very well for this temperament. Muhammad opposed such acts and invited them back to the religion of Abraham, to give charity, make no partners with Allah, rights for women, to live a noble and pious life, abstain from “riba�, looking after relatives, defending the weak in society, helping neighbors, no to adultery, gambling or alcohol. It was too much to ask for, and the Arabs had only been following their ancestors, and how possibly they could leave all this.
Just before the battle Muhammad prayed to Allah for Muslim victory, Saad ibn Muadh the representative from Medina, spoke his famous words to Muhammad, “ We believe in you, we declare your truth and we witness that what you have brought is the truth, and we have given you our word and agreement to hear and obey; so go where you wish and we are with you; and by God, if you were to ask us to cross this sea and you plunged into it, we would plunge into it with you; not a man would stay behind. We do not dislike the idea of meeting your enemy tomorrow. We are experienced in war, trustworthy in combat�. As per the battle tradition those days, one to one dual was fought before the final call of battle, from Muslims came Ali Bin Abu Talib, cousin of Prophet, Hamza Bin Abdul Muttalib, uncle of Prophet and Obeidah Bin Al Harith, cousin of Prophet. They faced the Meccan, “Sheibah, Al Waleed and Utbah, all 3 Meccans fell to Muslim warriors. The battle started and by mid day the once strong Meccan’s were routed, many killed and taken as prisoners of War, Prophet intervened and asked that prisoners be looked after well, with no disrespect or added injury to them. Later many of these prisoners accepted Islam, after experiencing its mercy and compassion from Prophet.
The battle of Badr was crucial to the new Muslims and Islam as an entity, had the Muslims lost this battle, the picture of Islam would have been very different. After suffering torture, humiliation and exile from the hands of Quraish, the day saved their existence, word spread fast among the tribes and desert Bedouins, that Muhammad and his Religion was to be taken seriously. The Arabs soon realized the truth in Muhammad’s voice and accepted Islam en mass, shunning their old beliefs and accepting the call of purity and accepting that “There is no God but Allah�, offering obligatory prayers, giving charity and living a pious life.From that day onwards the flag of Islam and followers of Muhammad never stopped growing, till day Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
Muhammad the Prophet of Allah and Seal of Prophet hood, May Peace be upon Him.
