An appointment at Badr
Abu Sufyan had left Uhud with the promise of another
military encounter the following year, and with the arrival of Sha’ban 4 A.H., the Prophet ﷺ pre-empted his adversary in a march toward the battlefield. He camped at Badr, where he waited eight days for Abu Sufyan.
He had with him a force consisting of 1500 soldiers and 10 horses. Ali bin Abu Talib was the standard bearer, while the administration of Madinah was handed over to Abdullah Rawaha .
Abu Sufyan also set out with 2000 soldiers, including 50
cavalrymen, but from the start he appeared to be lacking fire. Upon arriving at the venue he remarked to his men,
“Battle is suitable when there is freshness and greenery throughout so that the animals can graze and we can also drink milk. But now as there is drought everywhere, I am going back. You people should follow me.” Abu Sufyan’s entire army seemed to share his sentiments and tamely marched back without meeting the enemy.
The Muslims, meanwhile, stayed on at Badr and carried out a
number of business transactions. They sold their goods and made handsome profits
In Rabi’ Al-Awwal that same year the Prophet ﷺ launched a punitive attack on a group of bandits at Dumat Al Jandal. At last all the enemies were subdued, and there was peace for an entire year, a year that the Prophet ﷺ was able to spend consolidating the faith and teaching his followers.
After the expedition against Banu Nadir and the meek
departure of the Quraysh from Badr, a year and a half went by without any disturbances.
It seemed that the Muslims were finally free to spread their religion and bring about changes in their environment and daily lives, but the idyll was soon to be disrupted.
The exiled Jews had consolidated their base at Khaybar, and having done so they began to dream of vengeance. Realising the need to rally as much manpower as possible, they went about seeking allies against the Muslims.
Some biographers say that twenty chieftains and leaders of Khaybar Jews went to the Quraysh pledging support for a renewed military campaign. When the Quraysh agreed, the Jewish delegation contacted Banu Ghatfan, and they also gave their consent. More and more clans were roped in, and the plan was that each of them should move towards Madinah simultaneously.
When the news of the coalition reached Madinah, the
Prophet conferred with his Companions as to strategy. The Muslims being so heavily outnumbered, it was imperative that they come up with an impenetrable defence.
We will know more next time.
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