The Remembrance of the Bearer of Glad Tidings and the Warner صلى الله عليه وسلم - Episode 12: A Spotlight on the Way to the Battle of Badr

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The caravan of Quraysh with Abu Sufyan at its head escaped the prophet's grasp and reached As-Sham. They sold their commodities off and bought another. After that they set back to Mecca.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet awaited its return, inciting his companions to intercept this camel caravan which is loaded with Quraysh's wealth and commodities, which if Allah gave it to them, may compensate them partly for their former losses for Quraysh have forcibly exacted their wealth and property in Mecca.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم dispatched Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah and Sa‘id bin Zaid northward to scout around for any movements of the awaited caravan. When the later was spotted, they immediately informed the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet said to his companions “It is the caravan of the Quraysh and it contains their wealth, so set out to [seize] it as Allah may give it to you.”

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The caravan consisted of thousand camels or more, carrying gold and commodities.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The caravan was loaded with a great wealth of Quraysh, thousands of thousands, which included some of the fortune they had exacted forcibly and aggressively from the prophet's companions in Mecca.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The wealth was amounted to be not less than 50 thousands golden dinars.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Thus the prophet wanted to compensate the emigrants for their wealth and give them back some of their plundered rights (money)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: For that reason the prophet urged his companions to set out;for this caravan contains your money, therefore set out to seize it. Allah may give it to you, yet the prophet didn't make it obligatory for them to set out.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The companions hurried to go by his side صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The number of companions who set out with the prophet

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: were approximately 314 companions

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: majorly from the Emigrants (Muhajirun)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم actually set out to waylay that caravan

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophed marched with his companions, turning near Badr to intercept the caravan of Quraysh.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They had only two horses belonging to Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwam and Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad and 70 camels, one for two or three men to ride alternatively. Even The Messenger of Allah himself صلى الله عليه وسلم, their model leader (may my mother and father be sacrificed for him), along with ‘Ali and Murthid Al-Ghanawi had only one camel to ride.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They didn't have enough supplies, yet they set out to intercept Quraysh's caravan which was lead by Abu Sufyan

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu sufyan was a wise, reasonable man who was known among Quraysh by his abilities to face hardships and dangers.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: and it was Abu Sufyan's habit to scout men prior to the passing of his caravan.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Therefore when he was informed that prophet and his companions were lying in ambush for his caravan, he took another route to escape their gasp.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He sent one of his spies. He then met a Bedouin and inquired after the Muslims' army. The former replied "I didn't see anyone else two men were drawing water in a container." Abu Sufyan to see for himself, he inspected their camels' dung and found in them dates' kernels. "This is Yathrib (Medina) fodder," he said

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He concluded that the two men were spies sent by the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to observe the road. He turned his caravan another way in consequent, took another route and rushed near the coastal route to escape the prophet's grip.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: and he sent his herald to Mecca to bring Quraysh to his support for the caravan now was in the danger of the Muslims' sudden attack.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: He immediately hired Damdam bin ‘Amr Al-Ghifari to communicate a message asking for help from Quraysh. Their merchandise and the whole caravan was in danger. Indeed Damdam bin ‘Amr Al-Ghifari mounted his camel and rushed to Mecca. When he entered it on his camel,

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: he cut off the nose and the ears of the camel, turned its saddle upside down, tore off his own shirt from front and behind, and cried: “O Quraish! Your merchandise! It is with Abu Sufyan. The caravan is being intercepted by Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companions. I cannot say what would have happened to them by now. Help! Help!”

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The effect of this hue and cry was instantaneous. Quraysh gathered; they were very furious, raging in anger against the prophet, thinking of nothing but their money and merchandise that the Muslims might seize

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They therefore swiftly mustered almost all of their forces

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They hurriedly rushed to the aid of their caravan, full armed, intending to kill the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for daring to intercept their trade route.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They rushed out; precisely as Allah describes them (full of self-conceit and the desire to be seen and praised by tribes and men) resolved to kill the prophet and as the prophet described them (they went forth full armed)

{وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ} [الأنفال: 47]

Interpretation of the meaining: "And be not like those [unbelievers] who went forth from their homelands full of self-conceit and a desire to be seen and praised by men for they were trying to turn others away from the path of God -the while God encompassed all their doings [with His might]". [Al-Anfal: 47]

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: All Quraysh's clans and tribes mobilized to fight those who jeopardized their caravan; none was left behind.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: soon a throng of 1300 combatants was proceeding to fight the prophet.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: including 100 horsemen and 600 mailed combatants

Sheikh Ali Paqees: loaded with war materials and supplies

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They chose Abu Jahl for their leadership

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Allah's wrath be invoked on him

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: and so Abu Jahl was the leader of that mobilized army

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: they went forth towards the prophet's whereabouts at Badr nearby Medina. The prophet was informed of their approach full armed and mailed, well prepared with numbers of food supplies and war materials.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the case wasn't a caravan that they desired to intercept, not anymore; an enormous army was approaching to fight the prophet and who knows! They may dare to invade good Taiba (Medina) with the intent of killing the prophet.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When Abu Sufyan realized the intention of the prophet and his army, he immediately changed his route thereupon the caravan was safe and out of the Muslims' reach. He dispatched a messenger to inform Quraysh of their merchandise safety and asked them to go back home.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He sent a message to them assuring them of the caravan's safety. mMeanwhile they have reached Al-Juhfah close to Medina. He emphasized in his messages "You came forth from your homes to defend your merchandise and your men, but Allah protected both so go back to your homes"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: On receiving Abu Sufyan’s message, Quraysh army showed a desire to return home. The tyrant Abu Jahl however haughtily and arrogantly as he is

Sheikh Ali Paqees: he swore by Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza that they will proceed to Badr.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "We shall reside there for 3 days, slaughter camels, enjoy our leisure with food, drinking wine and listen to the played instruments, and make other tribes feel our strength and sovereignty" a great number of the chiefs of Quraysh responded positively to him; Al-Akhnas bin Shuraiq, a wise sharp man however opposed his decision "We didn't set out but to protect our caravan and it's safe. For what reason shall we persistently go forth?" and acting upon Al-Akhnas' advice was Banu Zohrah who turned back home with him.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the Quraysh lost one third of their army, about 300 combatants

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Thenceforth Al-Akhnas remained ‘the well-rubbed palm tree’ for Bani Zohrah and was blindly obeyed in all relevant matters ever since.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The rest of the army lead by Abu Jahl, approached Badr and encamped themselves beyond a sand dune at Al-‘Udwat Al-Quswa that Allah mentioned in the holy Quran.

{إِذْ أَنْتُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَى وَالرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدْتُمْ لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِ وَلَكِنْ لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ} [الأنفال: 42]

Interpretation of the meaning: "Remember that day] when you were at the near end of the valley [of Badr], and they were at its farthest end, while the caravan was below you. And if you had known that a battle was to take place, you would indeed have refused to accept the challenge: but [the battle was brought about none the less,] so that God might accomplish a thing [which He willed] to be done, [and] that he who would perish might perish in clear evidence of the truth, and that he who would remain alive might live in clear evidence of the truth. And, behold, God is indeed all-hearing, all-knowing. [Al-Anfal: 42]

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: But the haughtiness and arrogance of Abu Jahl enticed him to go forth to Badr and stay their some nights; thence Allah prepared for his death there. He sowre to drink wine there, yet the soil soaked his blood up. He refused but to make festivals and listen to played instruments at Badr, but Allah prepared for the world to hear the laments and wailing of Quraysh women over him and his party.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The polytheists' army marching to Badr was a sudden development of the stances. The prophet was surprised and so were his companions. They neither expected it nor took the necessary preparations for such a war.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet had reached Thafran Valley when he learnt that the caravan slipped past them and Quraysh army is marching to Badr, leaving none behind them at their homes. It was a baffling situation that perplexed the prophet.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Some of the prophet's companions were discomforted to fight unprepared against Quraysh. They'd liked to confront the less powerful enemy (the Caravan) than fighting against an army.

{وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللَّهُ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكَافِرِينَ} [ الأنفال: 7]

Interpretation of the meaning: "And, lo, God gave you the promise that one of the two [enemy] hosts would fall to you: and you would have liked to seize the less powerful one, whereas it was God's will to prove the truth to be true in accordance with His words and to wipe out the last remnant of those who denied the truth" [Al-Anfal: 7]

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم held an advisory military emergency meeting to review the ongoing situation.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: He followed his Lord words as Allah says "and take counsel with them in all matters" and so he did "tell me your opinions" he said to them

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet consulted his companions for two reasons: to deduce from their opinions if they were ready to fight the polytheists or dreaded the encounter and also he thought he may find a wise opinion.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:  Abu Bakr was the first who spoke on the occasion, spoke briefly but assured the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of the unreserved obedience to his command; ‘Umar was the next to stand up and spoke briefly yet assured the prophet as well of their unreserved obedience.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Still the prophet addressed his companions "tell me your opinions; speak up"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Then Al-Miqdad bin ‘Amr got up and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Proceed where Allah directs you to, for we are with you; we firmly believe in you"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: We will not say as the Children of Israel said to Moses صلى الله عليه وسلم “Go you and your Lord and fight and we will stay here;”

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Rather we shall say: “Go you and your Lord and fight and we will fight along with you.”

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The three leaders who spoke were from the Emigrants, The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted, and for the more reason, to hear the Helpers’ view if they are willing to fight on his side because they were expected to shoulder the brunt of the war activities as they were the majority of the army.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet wanted to hear them out and listen to their choice and view.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: so he again said "O people; give me your opinions; speak up"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Upon this Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh stood up and said: “By Allah, I feel you meant us (the Helpers) to speak.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم directly said: “Oh, yes!”

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Sa‘d said: “O Prophet of Allah! We believe in you and we declare in unequivocal terms that what you have brought is the Truth. We give you our firm pledge of obedience and sacrifice. We will obey you most willingly in whatever you command us."

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "keep ties with whoever you wish and severe those you don't. Take whichever amount of our wealth you want and leave whichever you don't. What you take from us are more valued and cherished in our eyes that what you leave"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "By Allah who sent you with the truth, if you asked us to cross this sea, we would do so and none of us would stay behind. We do not mind fighting an enemy tomorrow with you. We are experienced in war and we are trustworthy in combat. We hope that Allah will show you through our hands those deeds of valor which will please your eyes. So, March and Allah will bless your marching"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "We are very patient in war and trustworthy in combat. We hope that Allah will show you through our hands those deeds of valor which will please your eyes"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was impressed with the fidelity and the spirit of sacrifice of Sa'd that encouraged and strengthened his stance صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The Prophet was very pleased with the statement of Sa‘d and he said: “Proceed and have glad tidings: Allah has promised me one of the two (the lucrative course through capturing the booty or strife in the cause of Allah against the polytheists), and by Allah it is as if I now saw the enemies' death locations in the battle"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: the prophet was now resolved to march and fight the polytheists

(Words that were said by a lion of the Badr Battle's many lions, one characterized by nobility of actions. He is Sa'd bin Mu'ath. May Allah bless those true heroes,trustworthy in combat, a party that won the eternal glory and the glorious honor.)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Immediately the prophet started to plan their strategy of the battlefield.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet stopped his army at the first place enriched with water nearby Badr.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Here, Al-Hubab bin Al-Munthir stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, concerning this place, is this the place that Allah has ordered you to be in? If it is as such, then of course we should not advance beyond it or stop before it, or is this a question of opinion, warfare tactics and planning?”

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The Messenger of Allah told him that it was a matter of opinion, warfare tactics and planning. Thereupon, Al-Hubab replied, “O Messenger of Allah,"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: this is then not the correct place [to camp]. In my humble opinion we should march until we reach the part of water that is nearest to the enemy [the polytheists]"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "and destroy the wells beyond it"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: "and then construct a basin; fill it with water and then fight them. In this way, we will have plenty of water to drink, while they will have nothing.”

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gladly said "the best of opinions indeed"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet accepted his opinion and then led the army to the part of water that was nearest to the enemy and camped therein.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Here, Sa'd bin Mu'ath advanced towards the prophet

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: the brave, self-sacrificing for the prophet, and in Allah's sake, Sa'd Bin Mu'ath

(may Allah be pleased with him) suggested the building of a trellis to function as a headquarters for the Messenger of Allah.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "and then we would meet our enemy? If we become victorious by the grace of Allah, then we will have achieved what we aspired to." He said

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Otherwise, you can ride back to the rest of our brothers in Medina

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: We don't love and cherish you more than they do

Sheikh Ali Paqees: they did not know that it would be a real encounter with the enemy. If they had known, they would have definitely not lagged behind.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: true to the suggestion, a small trellis was built for the prophet to be near the battlefield and to inspect it himself صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Sa'd bin Mu'ath along with a number of his companions were the prophet's guards therein

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet provoked his companions and encouraged them to fight their enemy on the morrow

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: On the night of the battlefield the prophet took his walk through the land of the battlefield, pointing at different spots

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "here would be the death location of so and so"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "and here the death spot of that man, and here of that man"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The narrator said afterwards "when the war was settled, we found them dead at those very spots the prophet pointed at; not far from it by even an inch"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The prophet dispatched men to reconnoiter the polytheists' army. The Prophet himself conducted a scouting operation accompanied with Abu Bakr. They encountered an old Bedouin, the prophet asked him about the location of Quraysh's army and that of Medina's as well.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The old man said, “I won't tell you anything before you tell me from where you are.” The Messenger of Allah said: “If you tell us, we will tell you.”

Sheikh Ali Paqees: This old man said "I shouldn't answer your inquires before you inform me about your origins" they said" we won't till you answer us first"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "I heard that the Quraysh reached such and such two days ago,"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "and if this is true, then today they are in such-and-such a place; and I heard that Muhammad and the Medina's army went out on such-and-such a day."

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "If that is true, then today they are in such-and-such a place"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Referring to the exact places of the Muslims' army and the polytheists' one; then he asked "Now tell me; where are you from?"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Messenger of Allah replied: “We are from Maa’ [this means water] the prophet said so referring to the origin of living beings (water) but the old man recognized it as a clan, tribe or a place named so. So he said inquiring "From Maa'? Which do you refer to with Maa'?" the prophet and his companions left him at then.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: On that day's evening, a number of companions went in a quest for news about the army of the Quraysh. They found two slaves bringing water for the polytheist army

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They asked them who they might be and they answered "we are both slaves of Quraysh, went out to bring their army water" the companions wished that those would be among the crew of the caravan lead by Abu Sufyan, hoping to still have a chance to intercept it.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: so the slaves said "we belong to Quraysh's army" but the companion hit them hard so they altered their words "we belong to the caravan leady by Abi Sufyan"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet all the while was praying. When he finished his prayers he turned to his companions

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "when they told you the truth, you hit them in reward?"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet then gently and wisely approached the two young slaves and asked them "How many camels do they slaughter every day?”

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They answered, “One day they slaughter nine camels and the next day ten."

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah remarked: “They are between nine hundred and one thousand.” He determined their numbers.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: and indeed was it their exact number. The prophet then proceeded to prepare his army and strengthen their faith for the war breaks out on the morrow.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When the prophet lined the companions up, he beseeched Allah for Divine help. He raised his hands and sincerely supplicated his Lord to support them against the polytheists. He supplicated the Excellent Master, the Excellent supporter.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: It's a situation when the nature of human beings controls over one's feelings. They feel an urgent need to be supported by a divine power, by their Lord, the Almighty, the Lord of all lords. As to the noble prophet, he trusted none but his Lord, supplicated his Creator; sincerely and humbly " O Allah! I am waiting for your victory which You have promised me; I am waiting for your victory which You have promised me; I am waiting for your victory which You have promised me." And so he sincerely repeated صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: he prayed "O Allah! If you were to exterminate this small group of Muslims, you will not be worshipped on earth anymore." And he kept supplicating, provoking his Lord to support them, and aid them till his outer gown fell off his shoulder so Abu Bakr approached him (may Allah be pleased with him) and put his hand tenderly on the prophet's shoulder

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "O' messenger of Allah, indeed it be enough, truly it be enough; you've supplicated your Lord for too long"

(What great moments were them; to resort to the weapon of Dua' (praying) before the weapon of fighting that who fought his enemy with making dua'a against him; truly used a weapon that can't be avoided. How many weak ones used it and became stronger? How servile were ones before using it thus got a boast of honor and strength? How few were ones in numbers before using it and became as intense as many?)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: the Prophet set his companions in rows one after another

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet was holding a stick to even the rows

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: There was a companion, whose name was Sawad who was standing a bit in front of the others in the row

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet goaded him with his stick to go a step backward

Sheikh Ali Paqees: "O messenger of Allah, it stings hard" he said to the prophet

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "Avenge me" the prophet willingly exposed his stomach for his companion to avenge him

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: But Sawad didn't. Instead he embraced the prophet and kissed his stomach. The prophet surprised asked "Why did you do that Sawad?" The former replied "O messenger of Allah! you see the number of polytheists and the war is about to broke fiercely out and I wished to embrace you one last time before passing away" may Allah be pleased with him. The prophet tenderly prayed for him.