Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar). Excellent Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Episode 116

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Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar).

Excellent Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Episode 116

THE INVASION OF BADR, THE SECOND

When the Muslims destroyed the power of the Arab-desert tribes and guarded themselves against their evils, they started preparations to encounter their great enemy. A year elapsed since they fought Quraish at Uhud. So it was due time to meet them and start war again in order to determine 

which of the two parties was worthy of survival. 

In Sha‘ban 4 A.H., January 626 A.D., the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) set out to Badr 

accompanied by one thousand and five hundred fighters and ten mounted horsemen, and with ‘Ali 

bin Abi Talib as standard bearer. ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah was given authority over Madinah during 

the Prophet ’s absence. Reaching Badr, the Muslims stayed there waiting for the idolaters to come. 

Abu Sufyan’s forces comprised two thousand footmen and fifty horsemen. They reached Mar Az-

Zahran, some distance form Makkah, and camped at a water place called Mijannah. Being reluctant, 

discouraged and extremely terrified of the consequences of the approaching fight, Abu Sufyan 

turned to his people and began to introduce cowardice-based flimsy pretexts in order to dissuade his 

men from going to war, saying: “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.” 

It seems that 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 awe-inspiring presence 

over the whole of Arabia. In brief, they mastered and controlled the whole situation. 

This invasion had many a name. It is called ‘Badr the Appointment’, ‘Badr, Second’, ‘Badr, the 

Latter’, and ‘Badr Minor’.