In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

 

Final Messenger Prophet Muhammad

 

 

Medina Period

Madina under Sabotage style attacks on Food, Cattle etc...:
Towards the second year of the hijrah, the idolaters of Makka began a series of hostile acts against the Muslims of Madina. They sent men in parties to commit depredations on the fruit trees of the Muslims of Madina and to carry away their flocks. Now came the moment of severest trial to Islam. It became the duty of the Prophet to take serious measures to guard against any plot rising from within or a sudden attack from without.

Battle of Badr - Makkan Troop formations approaching Madina:
Allah's Prophet put Madina in a state of military discipline. He had to send frequent reconnoitering parties to guard against any sudden onslaught. No sooner did the Prophet organize hi state than a large well-equipped army of the Makkans was afield. A force constituting of one thousand men marched under Abu Jahl, a great enemy of Islam, towards Madina to attack the city. The Muslims received timely notice of their enemies' intention. A body of three hundred adherents, of whom two thirds were citizens of Madina, was gathered to forestall the idolaters by occupying the valley of Badr, situated near the sea between Makka and Madina. When the Prophet saw the army of the infidels approaching the valley, he prayed that the little band of Muslims might not be destroyed.

Victory - Battle Badr is Won:
The army of the Makkans advanced into the open space which separated the Muslims from the idolaters. According to Arab usage, the battle was began by simple combats. The engagement that became general. The result of the battle was that the Makkans were driven back with great loss, despite the fact that they out-numbered the Muslims. Several of their chiefs were slain, including Abu Jahl.

Allah's Apostle sets rules for treatment of POWs: A large number of idolaters remained prisoners in the hands of the Muslims. They were, contrary to all usage and traditions of the Arabs, treated with the greatest humanity.

The Prophet gave strict orders that sympathy should be shown to them in their misfortune and that they should be treated with kindness. These instructions were faithfully obeyed by the Muslims to whose care the prisoners were confided. Dealing with this event, Sir William Muir, in his book Life of Muhammad quotes one of the prisoners saying: "Blessing be on the men of Madina; they made us ride, while they themselves walked; they gave us wheaten bread to eat, when there was little of it, contenting themselves with dates."

Almighty Allah (swt) said: Surah 3.Aal-E-Imran (The Family Of 'Imran), verse 123-127

Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus May ye show your gratitude. Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: "Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels (Specially) sent down?  "Yea, - if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels Making a terrific onslaught. Allah made it but a message of hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah. The Exalted, the Wise: That He might cut off a fringe of the Unbelievers or expose them to infamy, and they should then be turned back, frustrated of their purpose.

The remarkable circumstances, which led to the victory of Badr, and results, which followed from it, made a deep impression on the minds of the Muslims; the angels of the heaven had battled on their side against their enemies. The division of the spoils created some dissension between the Muslim warriors. For the moment, the Prophet divided it equally among all. Subsequently, a Qur'an revelation laid down a rule for future division of the spoils. According to this rule, a fifth was reserved for the public treasury for the support of the poor and indigent, while the distribution of the remaining four fifths was left to the discretion of the Chief of the State.