History of Islam
Badr and its people
Maulana Rashid Noor ‘Attari Madani
Eighty miles from the blessed city of Medina lies a village called Badr. Named after a local who owned a well there, this village was the site of an annual festival before the advent of Islam. However, it is better-known for the historic Expedition of Badr which saw the first group of believers in Islam valiantly face the much larger and better-equipped tyrants of Mecca, persevering until the Muslims gained a resounding victory, and the banner of Islam flew high.
Allah Almighty named this momentous day ‘The Day of Separation’ (Yawm Al-Furqan), alluding to the decisive separation between truth and falsehood that transpired on that day. (Seerat-e-Mustafa, p. 210; Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pp. 255-256) On 12 Ramadan, 2 AH, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, accompanied by three-hundred and thirteen heroes of Islam, left Medina and marched towards Badr. (Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 211-213) In this expedition, the Muslims possessed only three horses and seventy camels, with three people allocated to one camel. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah Persian, vol. 2, p. 81; Mirat-ul-Manajeeh, vol. 5, p. 494)
The honourable companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم made an arbour-like enclosure from palm tree branches for the protection of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم so that he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم could safely observe the battlefield. The Prophet’s friend in both the cave and the grave, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was positioned inside this structure with a sword, guarding the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, while Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Mu’aaz رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and a few other companions stood guard outside. Masjid Arish is now situated on that site. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah Persian, vol. 2, p. 86; Sawa’iq-ul-Muharriqah, p. 30; Mirqat-ul-Mafateeh, vol. 10, p. 627)
The battle commenced on Friday, 17 Ramadan. Despite being outnumbered, fourteen believers attained martyrdom on this blessed day while the disbelievers of Mecca suffered seventy fatalities and a further seventy were taken captive. (Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 220-232-233) Islam honoured these brave believers by granting them a timeless rank, as Bahar-e-Shari’at explains:
After the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs, the Ten Promised Paradise (Al-Asharah Al-Mubashsharah) have the highest rank, then Imams Hasan and Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, followed by the participants of Badr, and then the participants of Bay’at-ul-Ridwan; all of them will certainly be admitted to Paradise. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, p. 249)
Dear Readers! Reflect on the following two statements of the Beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding the virtue of those honourable companions who partook in the Battle of Badr for the sole purpose of defending Islam:
1. ‘اِنِّی لَاَرْجُو اَلَّا يَدْخُلَ النَّارَ اِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَالْحُدَيْبِيَةَ’ ‘I am hopeful that none of those who participated in Badr and Hudaybiyah will enter Hell.’ (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 4, p. 508, Hadees 4281)
2. ‘لَعَلَّ اللهَ اطَّلَعَ اِلَى اَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ: اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمُ الجَنَّةُ اَوْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ’ ‘No doubt, Allah Almighty knows the participants of Badr and He has declared: ‘Do whatever you wish, for no doubt, Paradise is guaranteed for you.’ (Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 12, Hadees 3983)
Mirat-ul-Manajih states that ‘The Du’a which is made after reciting the names of the participants of Badr will be accepted.’ (Mirat-ul-Manajeeh, vol. 8, p. 567)
May Allah Almighty increase the ranks of the participants of Badr and grant us steadfastness upon the religion of Islam whilst following in their footsteps. And may He make us obedient followers of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
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