On the Battlefield of Badr

Then the Noble Prophet ﷺ had a reservoir built at the well where the Islamic army had camped. He had it filled with water and ordered buckets to be placed there.

“O Messenger of Allah! Why do we not make an ‘Arish for you?”

(An ‘Arish is a canopy made from the branches and leaves of date palms.)

“You may stay inside it, while your riding animals remain ready nearby. We will go and confront the enemy.”

The Noble Prophet ﷺ accepted his suggestion.

Accordingly, a canopy was made for the Prophet ﷺ. It was built on a raised mound. From this place, the Prophet ﷺ could observe the entire battlefield.

The Noble Prophet ﷺ stayed there.

The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked:

“Who will remain here with you so that none of the polytheists can come near you?”

Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه says:

“By Allah! When we heard this, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه stepped forward and, holding his sword above the Prophet ﷺ, said:

‘Whoever dares to come toward you will first have to deal with this sword.’”

Because of these courageous words of Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ declared him to be the bravest person.

This happened before the battle began.

When the battle actually started, Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه was also standing at the entrance of this canopy. Hazrat Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh رضي الله عنه was also present there with a group of Ansari Companions.

Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه was inside, entrusted with protecting the Prophet ﷺ.

Thus, morning came.

Then the Qurayshi army appeared from behind a sand dune.

Before this, the Noble Prophet ﷺ had mentioned the names of some of the polytheists and said that such-and-such a person would be killed at such-and-such a place.

Hazrat Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه says that the people whose names the Prophet ﷺ had mentioned, saying that they would be killed at certain places, were found exactly at those places after the battle. They had not been moved even an inch from those locations.

When the Noble Prophet ﷺ saw that the Qurayshi army was advancing fully equipped with armor and weapons, he supplicated to Allah, the Lord of Majesty:

“O Allah! These people of Quraysh, Your enemies, have come with all their brave men, full of arrogance, to fight against You (that is, to violate Your commands) and to reject Your Messenger.

“O Allah! You have promised me Your help and support, so send that help.

“O Allah! You have revealed the Book to me and commanded me to remain steadfast. Grant us victory over this army of polytheists.

“O Allah! Destroy them today.”

According to another narration, these words were also included in the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ:

“O Allah! Do not allow Abu Jahl, the Pharaoh of this Ummah, to find any place of refuge or shelter.”

When the Qurayshi army had settled, they sent ‘Umayr ibn Wahb al-Jumahi رضي الله عنه to gather information.

‘Umayr ibn Wahb رضي الله عنه later accepted Islam and became a very good Muslim. He participated with the Prophet ﷺ in the Battle of Uhud.

The Quraysh said to ‘Umayr رضي الله عنه:

“Go and find out the number of Muhammad’s army and inform us.”

‘Umayr رضي الله عنه mounted his horse and went out. He made a complete circuit around the Islamic army.

Then he returned to the Quraysh and reported:

“Their number is approximately three hundred. Perhaps there are somewhat more.

“But, O Quraysh, I observed that these people have no desire to return to their homes without fighting. I believe that none of them will be killed before killing someone from among you.

“In other words, approximately as many of your men may be killed as theirs.

“After that, what enjoyment will remain in life?

“Therefore, think carefully about this before starting the battle.”

After hearing his words, some people said to Abu Jahl:

“Give up the intention of fighting and return. There is goodness in doing so.”

Among those who advised them to return was Hazrat Hakim ibn Hizam رضي الله عنه.

Abu Jahl did not accept their advice. He remained determined to fight and taunted those who were suggesting that they return, calling them cowards.

Thus, the battle could not be avoided.

The battle had not yet begun when Aswad al-Makhzumi announced before the Quraysh:

“I make a covenant before Allah that either I will drink from the reservoir made by the Muslims, or I will destroy it, or I will give my life in the attempt.”

He then advanced onto the battlefield.

Hazrat Hamzah رضي الله عنه came forward to face him.

Hazrat Hamzah رضي الله عنه struck him with his sword, and he was severely wounded. Despite this, he moved toward the reservoir and attempted to drink from it.

Hazrat Hamzah رضي الله عنه immediately advanced toward him and struck him again, bringing the encounter to an end.

After this, some other men from Quraysh advanced toward the reservoir.

Hazrat Hakim ibn Hizam رضي الله عنه was among them.

When the Noble Prophet ﷺ saw them approaching, he said:

“Let them come. Whoever among them drinks from the reservoir today will be killed here while in a state of disbelief.”

Hazrat Hakim ibn Hizam رضي الله عنه did not drink from the water. Thus, he was saved from being killed and later accepted Islam. He became a very good Muslim.

Now, first of all, ‘Utbah, his brother Shaybah, and his son Walid stepped forward onto the battlefield and challenged:

“Who will come to face us?”

In response to this challenge, three young Ansari men came forward from among the Muslims.

All three were brothers.

Their names were Mu‘awwidh, Mu‘adh, and ‘Awf رضي الله عنهم.

Their father’s name was ‘Afra’.

Seeing these three young men, ‘Utbah asked:

“Who are you?”

They replied:

“We are Ansar.”

Upon this, ‘Utbah said:

“You are not our equals. Send someone from among the Muhajirun to face us. We will fight men from our own people.”

The Noble Prophet ﷺ then ordered these three young men to return.

All three returned to their ranks.

The Prophet ﷺ praised them and encouraged them.

Then the Prophet ﷺ commanded:

“O ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Harith, rise!

“O Hamzah, rise!

“O ‘Ali, rise!”

These three immediately came out from their ranks and stood before the three Qurayshi challengers.

Among them, ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Harith رضي الله عنه was the oldest.

He faced ‘Utbah ibn Rabi‘ah.

Hazrat Hamzah رضي الله عنه faced Shaybah, while Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه faced Walid.

Hazrat Hamzah رضي الله عنه did not give Shaybah an opportunity to strike and defeated him with a single blow.

Similarly, Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه defeated Walid with a single blow.

As for Hazrat ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Harith رضي الله عنه and ‘Utbah, they began exchanging blows with their swords.