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The battle of Badr was the first armed encounter
between the Muslims and Quraish. It was in fact a decisive battle that gained the Muslims
a historic victory acknowledged by all the Arabs, and dealt a heavy blow to the religious
and economic interests of the polytheists. There were also the Jews who also used to
regard each Islamic victory as a heavy blow to their religioeconomic entity. Both parties
were burning with rage and fury since the Muslims had achieved that great victory:
"Verily, you will
find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and Al-Mushrikûn
(polytheists, pagans, idolators and disbelievers, etc.)." [Al-Qur'an
5:82]
Both resentful parties had their much more indignant
suite in the form of hypocrites who faked Islam just to save their faces; at the head of
whom came ‘Abdullah bin Ubai and his retinue. The desert bedouins living in tents
pitched in the vicinity of Madinah, who depended on plundering and looting as a means of
living, were totally indifferent to this axial question of belief and disbelief. Their
worry derived from fear of losing their perverted avenues of subsistence in case a
powerful nascent Muslim state should rise up and put an end to such ill-practices, hence
the grudge they nursed against Islam and the Muslims, in general, and the person of
Muhammad [pbuh], in particular.
The whole cause of Faith was thus at stake with four
furious parties laying ambushes against the new religion, each in its style: Pretension to
Islam embedded with conspiracy plots and provocative deeds within Madinah, explicitly
uncovered animosity pregnant with indignation and fire of rage on the part of the Jews,
and there in Makkah open and persistent calls for vengeance coupled with open intentions
to mobilize all potential resources available to silence the voice of Islam once and for
all. This was later translated into military action, Uhud Invasion, which left a very bad
impression on the good name and esteem that the Muslims were painstakingly working to
merit and preserve.
The Muslims were always obliged to be on the lookout
for any hostile movements, and it was imperative on them to launch pre-emptive strikes in
all directions in order to enjoy a reasonable degree of security in this great
instability-provoking ocean of unrest. The following is a list of military activities
conducted in the post-Badr era:
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The scouting body of Madinah reported that Banu
Saleem of Ghatafan were engaged in mustering troops to invade the Muslims. The Prophet
[pbuh] took the initiative himself and mounted a surprise attack on them in their own
homeland at a watering place called Al-Kudr. Banu Saleem, on receiving the news, had fled
before he arrived. He stayed there for three days, took their 500 camels as booty and
distributed them to the fighters after he had set aside the usual one-fifth; each one
gained two camels.
This invasion took place in Shawwal in the year 2
A.H., seven days after the event of Badr.[Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/90; Ibn Hisham 2/43,44; Mukhtasar Seerat Ar-Rasool p.236]
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The impact of defeat at Badr was so great that the
Makkans began to burn with indignation and resentment over their horrible losses. To
resolve this situation two polytheists volunteered to quench their thirst and muffle the
source of that humiliation i.e. the Prophet [pbuh].
‘Umair bin Wahab Al-Jumahi, a terrible
polytheist, and an archenemy Safwan bin Omaiyah sat together privately lamenting their
loss and remembering their dead and captives. ‘Umair expressed a fervent desire to
kill the Prophet [pbuh] and release his captured son in Madinah, if it was not for the
yoke of debts he was under and the large family he had to support. Safwan, also had his
good reasons to see the Prophet [pbuh] killed, so he offered to discharge
‘Umair’s debts and support his family if he went on with his plan.
‘Umair agreed and asked Safwan to be reticent
on the whole scheme. He left for Madinah, having with him a sword to which he applied some
kind of lethal poison. ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab saw him at the door of the Mosque and
understood that he had come with evil intentions. He immediately went into the Mosque and
informed the Prophet [pbuh]. He was let in looped by the sling of his sword and in
greeting he said "good morning", to which the Prophet [pbuh] replied that Allâh
had been Gracious and taught them the greeting of the dwellers of the Paradise:
"peace be upon you!" To a question raised by the Prophet [pbuh], about his
object, ‘Umair said that he had come to see that his captured son was well treated.
As for the sword, which the Prophet [pbuh] asked him about, he cursed it and said that it
gained them nothing. On exhorting him to tell his real goal, he remained obdurate and did
not divulge the secret meeting with Safwan. Here the Prophet [pbuh] got impatient and he
himself revealed to ‘Umair his secret mission. ‘Umair was taken by surprise, and
incredible astonishment seized him, and immediately bore witness to the Messengership of
Muhammad [pbuh]. He then began to entertain Allâh’s praise for having been guided to
the ‘Straight Path’. The Prophet [pbuh] was pleased and asked his Companions to
teach ‘Umair the principles of Islam, recite to him the Noble Qur’ân and
release his son from captivity.
Safwan, meanwhile, was still entertaining false
illusions as to the approaching redemption of honour, and burying the memory of Badr into
oblivion. He was impatiently awaiting ‘Umair’s news but to his great surprise,
he was told that the man had embraced Islam and changed into a devoted believer.
‘Umair later came back to Makkah where he started to call people unto Islam and he
did actually manage to convert a lot of Makkans into Islam.[Ibn Hisham 1/661-663]
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We have already spoken about the treaty that the
Prophet [pbuh] signed with the Jews. He was very careful to abide by it to the letter and
the Muslims did not show the least violation of any of its provisions. The Jews, however,
whose natural disposition is closely linked to treachery, betrayal and covenant-breaching,
could not rid themselves of the tradition of theirs, and started a process of intrigues
and troublemaking with the aim of producing schism in the growing solid Muslim ranks. Here
is a relevant model of their behaviour: Shas bin Qais, an elderly Jew, a terrible
disbeliever and a greatly envious man of the Muslims, passed by a group of Muhammad
[pbuh]’s followers of Aws and Khazraj. He perceived a prevalent spirit of
reconciliation and an atmosphere of rapport and amity enveloping the whole group; an
unusual scene categorically in conflict with the animosity and hatred that characterized
their pre-Islam behaviour. He, therefore, sent a youth of his to sit among them, remind
them of Bu‘ath war between them and recite some of their verses which they used to
compose satirizing each other; all of this with the intention of sowing the seeds of
discord and disagreement and undermining the new Islamically-orientated inter-tribal
relations. The youth did in fact succeed and the two parties at no time recalled the old
days and pre-Islam tribal fanaticism sprang to the front to bring about a state of war.
The Prophet [pbuh] was reported of this account, and
immediately, at the head of some Emigrants, set out to see to the situation. He began to
rebuke them but in the manner of the great instructor and the tolerant spirit of the
understanding guide: "O, Muslims! Do you still advance pre-Islamic arguments after I
have been sent to you (as a Messenger). Remember that it is not rightful for you to turn
backward after Allâh has guided you to the Straight Path, delivered you from disbelief
and created amity between you." The Muslims readily realized that it was a Satanic
whim and a plot hatched by the enemies. They directly embraced each other and went back
home quite satisfied and in full obedience to the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh].[Ibn Hisham 1/555, 556]
Such were the practices of the Jews, trouble-making,
dissension-sowing, falsehood-fabrication, faking belief in the day, and practising
disbelief at night. In everyday life, they used to tighten the ropes of financial dealings
on the Muslims. If they happened to owe a Muslim something, they would shirk their
obligations on grounds that he had converted into a new religion and they would allege the
basis of agreement was no longer valid. If it was the other way, they would never cease to
harass him day and night to pay back the debt, all of which in a desperate attempt to
demolish the great edifice of the new religion that was rapidly gaining ground and
speedily towering up skyward.
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Seeing that Allâh sided with the believers and
granted them a manifest victory and perceiving the Muslims’ awesome presence in
Madinah, the Jews could no longer contain themselves or conceal indignation. They started
a series of provocative and harmful deeds publicly. The most wicked amongst them were the
tribe of Banu Qainuqa‘, who lived in quarters within Madinah named after them. As for
jobs, they took up goldsmithery, blacksmithing and crafts of making household instruments,
that is why war weaponry was available in large quantities in their houses. They counted
700 warriors, and were the most daring amongst the Jewish community in Arabia, and now the
first to breach the covenant of cooperation and non-aggression which they had already
countersigned with the Prophet [pbuh]. Their behaviour grew too impolite and unbearable.
They started a process of trouble-making, jeering at the Muslims, hurting those who
frequented their bazaars, and even intimidating their women. Such things began to
aggravate the general situation, so the Prophet [pbuh] gathered them in assemblage,
admonished and called them to be rational, sensible and guided and cautioned against
further transgression. Nevertheless they remained obdurate and paid no heed to his
warning, and said: "Don’t be deluded on account of defeating some Quraishites
inexperienced in the art of war. If you were to engage us in fight, you will realize that
we are genuine war experts."
In this regard, the Words of Allâh were revealed
saying:
"Say (O Muhammad
[pbuh] ) to those who disbelieve: ‘You will be defeated and gathered together to
Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest.’ There has already been a Sign for you
(O Jews) in the two armies that met (in combat — i.e. the battle of
Badr): One was
fighting in the cause of Allâh, and as for the other (they) were disbelievers. They (the
believers) saw them (the disbelievers) with their own eyes twice their number (although
they were thrice their number). And Allâh supports with His Victory whom He pleases.
Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand." [Al-Qur'an
3:12,13] [Sunan Abu Da'ud with
Aunul-Ma'bood 3/115; Ibn Hisham 1/552]
The answer of Banu Qainuqa‘ amounted, as seen,
to war declaration. The Prophet [pbuh] suppressed his anger and advised the Muslims to be
patient and forbearing and wait for what time might reveal.
The Jews, went too far in their transgression,
presumptuous behaviour and licentious practices. One day a Jewish goldsmith provoked a
Muslim woman whose genitals become uncovered when he had tied the edge of the garment to
her back. A Muslim man happened to be there and killed the man; the Jews retaliated by
killing that Muslim. The man’s family called the Muslims for help and war started.[Ibn Hisham 2/47,48]
On Saturday, Shawwal 15th, 2 A.H., the Prophet
[pbuh] marched out with his soldiers, Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib, carrying the
standard of the Muslims and laid siege to the Jews’ forts for 15 days. Allâh cast
fear into their hearts, and they were obliged to defer to the Messenger[pbuh]’s
judgement on their lives, wealth, women and children; their hands were tied behind their
backs.
At this point, ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul
started his hypocritical role and began to intercede for them persistently on grounds of
former alliance between those Jews and His tribe Khazraj. Muhammad [pbuh] dealt with this
man as being a Muslim -- He had faked conversion into Islam for only one month, by that
time -- and so he granted him his request; for Islam accepts people at their face value.
Banu Qainuqa‘ handed over all materials, wealth and war equipage to the Prophet
[pbuh], who set aside one fifth and distributed the rest to his men. After that they were
banished out of all Arabia to Azru‘a in Syria where they stayed for a while and soon
perished away.
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Two-pronged hostile activities were being
independently conducted against the Prophet [pbuh]; plots and intrigues being hatched by
Safwan bin Omaiyah, the hypocrites and Jews on the one hand, going on and on parallel
lines with military hostilities being prepared by Abu Sufyan aiming at saving the face of
his people and impressing on the other Arabs that Quraish was still a military power to be
counted for. In the aftermath of Badr, Abu Sufyan was burning for revenge and took a
solemn vow he would never bathe off impurity unless he had avenged himself on Muhammad
[pbuh] and his followers. He set out at the head of 200 men towards Madinah but was not
brave enough to attack it in broad daylight. He, instead resorted to acts of piracy that
are performed in the dark. He infiltrated into the Prophet [pbuh]’s town and went to
see an old ally Huyai bin Akhtab, who was too cowardly to let him in, so he left for Salam
bin Mashkam, chief of Bani Nadeer, a tribe of Jews. The Jew entertained and gave him a
full account of the situation therein. Late at night he despatched a group of his men to
raid Al-‘Uraid, a suburb of Madinah. There, the men felled and burnt the palm trees,
killed two Muslims and then took swiftly to their heels.
On hearing the news, the Prophet [pbuh] gathered his
men and set out at their heels, but could not catch them. The Muslims brought back the
provisions (Sawiq, a kind of barley porridge) which the polytheists had thrown
aside in order to lighten their loads and hasten their escape; hence this campaign was
called As-Sawiq Invasion. It took place in Dhul-Hijjah 2 A.H., two months after the event
of Badr.[Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/90,91; Ibn
Hisham 2/44,45]
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The Prophet [pbuh]’s intelligence personnel
reported that Banu Tha‘labah and Banu Muhârib were mustering troops with the aim of
raiding the outskirts of Madinah. The Prophet [pbuh] at the head of 450 horsemen and
footmen set out to handle this new situation. ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan was asked to
dispose the affairs of the Muslims in Madinah. On their way, they captured a man who
embraced Islam and acted as a guide for the army. When the enemies heard of the approach
of the Muslims, they hurriedly dispersed in the mountains and disappeared. The Muslims
encamped at a watering place called "Dhi Amr" for the whole of Safar 3 A.H. The
Prophet [pbuh] aimed to impress upon the desert bedouins in the area, that the Muslims
were then powerful enough to cast fear and awe into the hearts of their enemies.[Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/91; Ibn Hisham 2/46]
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Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf was the most resentful Jew
at Islam and the Muslims, the keenest on inflicting harm on the Messenger of Allâh
[pbuh] and the most zealous advocate of waging war against him. He
belonged to Tai’ tribe but his mother to Banu Nadeer. He was a wealthy man known for
his handsomeness, and a poet living in luxury in his fort south east of Madinah at the
rear of Banu Nadeer’s habitations.
On hearing the news of Badr, he got terribly
exasperated and swore that he would prefer death to life if the news was true. When this
was confirmed he wrote poems satirizing Muhammad [pbuh], eulogizing Quraish and enticing
them against the Prophet [pbuh]. He then rode to Makkah where he started to trigger the
fire of war, and kindle rancour against the Muslims in Madinah. When Abu Sufyan asked him
which religion he was more inclined to, the religion of the Makkans or that of Muhammad
[pbuh] and his companions, he replied that the pagans were better guided. With respect to
this situation, Allâh revealed His Words:
"Have you not
seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and Taghût,
and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the
believers (Muslims)." [Al-Qur'an 4:51]
He then returned to Madinah to start a fresh
campaign of slanderous propaganda that took the form of obscene songs and amatory sonnets
with a view to defaming the Muslim women.
At this stage, the situation became unbearable and
could no longer be put up with. The Prophet [pbuh] gathered his men and said: "Who
will kill Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf? He had maligned Allâh, and His Messenger."
Thereupon, Muhammad bin Maslamah, ‘Abbad bin Bishr, Al-Harith bin Aws, Abu ‘Abs
bin Hibr and Salkan bin Salamah, Ka‘b’s foster brother, volunteered to do the
job.
Muhammad bin Maslamah said: "O Messenger of
Allâh, do you wish that I should kill him?" He said: "Yes." He said:
"Permit me to talk (to him in the way I deem fit)." He said: "Talk (as you
like)." So, Muhammad bin Maslamah came to Ka‘b and talked to him, saying:
"This man (i.e. the Prophet [pbuh]) has made up his mind to collect charity (from us)
and this has put us to a great hardship." When he heard this, Ka‘b said:
"By Allâh you will be put to more trouble by him." Muhammad bin Maslamah
answered: "No doubt, now we have become his followers and we do not like to forsake
him until we see what turn his affairs will take. I want that you should give me a
loan." He said: "What will you mortgage?" Muhammad answered: "What do
you want?" The immoral and heartless Jew demanded women and children as articles of
security against the debt. Muhammad said: "Should we pledge our women whereas you are
the most handsome of the Arabs; and the son of one of us may be abused by saying that he
was pledged for two wasq (measurement unit of weight) of dates but we can pledge
you (our) weapons." Ka‘b agreed. Salkan bin Salamah, Abu Na’ilah, at
another time, went to see Ka‘b for the same purpose and there were more or less the
same subjects, only that Abu Na’ilah would bring him some companions. The plan was
successful and provided for the presence of both men and weapons. On Rabi‘
Al-Awwal
14th, at night, the year 3 A.H. the people said good bye to the Prophet [pbuh] and set out
in the Name of Allâh to implement the carefully drawn plan. The Prophet [pbuh] stayed
back praying for them and supplicating Allâh to render them success. The men went and
called upon him at night. He came down although his wife warned him not to meet them
alleging that: "I hear a voice which sounds like the voice of murder." He said:
"It is only Muhammad bin Maslamah and my foster brother Abu Na’ilah. When a
gentleman is called at night even if he be pierced with a spear, he should respond to the
call." Abu Na’ilah said to his companions: "As he comes down, I will extend
my hand towards his head to smell and when I hold him fast, you should do your job."
So when he came down, they talked together for about an hour. They then invited him to go
out and spend a nice time in the moonlight. On the way out, Abu Na’ilah remarked:
"I smell the nicest perfume from you." Ka‘b said: "Yes, I have with me
a mistress who is the most scented of the women of Arabia." Abu Na’ilah again
said: "Allow me to smell (the scent on your head)". He said: "Yes, you may
smell." So he caught it and smelt. Then he said: "Allow me to do so(once
again)." He then held his head fast and said to his companions: "Do your
job." And they killed him. The group of men came back after fulfilling their mission.
One of them Al-Harith bin Aws was wounded by mistake with the swords of his men, and was
bleeding badly. When they reached Baqee‘ Al-Gharqad, they shouted, "Allâh is
Great". The Prophet [pbuh] heard them and realized that they had killed the enemy of
Allâh. As they saw him, he said: "Cheerful faces are yours." In reply, they
said: "And yours O Messenger of Allâh." They handed the head of the tyrant over
to him. He entertained Allâh’s praise for their success. He then applied his saliva
to Al-Harith’s wound and it healed on the spot.[Ibn Hisham 1/51-57; Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/341, 425, 2/577; Za'd Al-Ma'ad
2/91' and Sunan Abu Da'ud with 'Aun-ul-Ma'bood 2/42,43]
When the Jews learned about the death of their
tyrant, Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf, they were scared and even their stonelike hearts were in
the grip of inexpressible panic. They realized that the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh]
would thenceforth never hesitate to use force when good words and admonition failed. They
remained silent and resigned, and faked adherence to covenants.
Now the Prophet [pbuh] was free to collect his
thoughts and give himself up to resolving foreign affairs, and facing dangers that could
be carried with hostile wind blowing again from Makkah.
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In Rabi‘ Ath-Thani, the year 3 A.H. the Prophet
[pbuh] led a campaign comprising 300 warriors to Buhran in the area of Al-Furu‘. He
stayed there till Jumada Al-Ula, 3 A.H. No fighting took place in the process of this
patrolling invasion.[Ibn Hisham
2/50,51; Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/91]
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This was the most successful campaign prior to Uhud
Battle. It took place in Jumada Ath-Thaniyah, the year 3 A.H.
Summer approached and it was high time for the
Makkan trade caravans to leave for Syria. The people of Quraish whose lives depended
mainly on a mercantile economy consisting of summer caravans to Syria and winter caravans
to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), were now at a loss as to what route they would have to follow in
order to avoid the backbreaking military strikes that the Muslims successfully inflicted
on the polytheists.
They held a meeting to discuss the chances of
escaping the economic blockade and decided to go along a trade route across Najd to Iraq.
Furat bin Haiyan was appointed as a guide for the caravan. Safwan bin Omaiyah led the
caravan along the new route. News of the meeting leaked out through Na‘im bin
Mas‘ud Al-Ashja‘i under the effect of wine, and it flew fast to Madinah by Sulit
bin An-Nu‘man. The Prophet [pbuh] immediately mustered 100 horsemen under the
leadership of Zaid bin Harithah Al-Kalbi and despatched them to intercept and capture the
caravan. They caught up with the camels at a place called Al-Qardah. They took the
polytheists by surprise and arrested their guide and two other men. Safwan and his guards
fled away without showing the least resistance. The caravan was carrying silver and wares
whose value amounted to 100 thousand dirhams. The booty was distributed among the Muslim
warriors after one-fifth had been set aside for the Prophet [pbuh]. Furat bin Haiyan
embraced Islam out of his own sweet free will.[Ibn Hisham 1/50,51; Fiqh As-Seerah p.190; Rahmat-ul-lil'alameen 2/219]
As a result of this episode, the Muslims foiled
Quraish’s plans to find a new trade route. The economic siege laid to Makkah was thus
consolidated and had a great impact on the mercantile economy of Makkah. The Makkans were
terribly anxious and worried about their prospects of life now at stake with no hope
whatsoever for any possible rehabilitation of commercial life or redemption of former
prestige at the socio-political level except through two avenues categorically
contrasting: Relinquishing all symbols of arrogance and all attitudes of haughtiness
through reconciliation with the new status quo, and peaceableness with the Muslims; or
launching a decisive overwhelming war with the aim of crushing down the military forces of
Madinah. It was apparent through the process of events that Quraish had opted for the
second alternative. Loud cries were being heard everywhere in Makkah demanding immediate
vengeance and quick retaliatory action. These movements on all levels constituted the
direct preliminaries to the battle of Uhud.
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