The Battle of Badr
غزوة بدرThe first major battle of Islam. Heavily outnumbered, the believers met the Makkan army at the wells of Badr and, with Allah's aid, won a clear victory that established the young community.
Opposing force
≈ 1,000 (Quraysh)
۞
The Wells of Badr
The Muslims reached the water first and denied it to Quraysh, a decisive advantage.
The believers
≈ 313
Decisive victory · the Day of Criterion
How it unfolded
- 1
On the counsel of al-Ḥubāb ibn al-Mundhir, the Muslims seized the wells, taking the water and the high ground.
- 2
The battle opened with single combats in which Ḥamzah, ʿAlī and ʿUbaydah (ra) prevailed.
- 3
Allah sent angels as reinforcement, and the Qur'an calls it a day of distinction (al-furqān).
- 4
The chiefs of Quraysh, including Abū Jahl, were killed; the back of Makkan arrogance was broken.
Reflections
- Victory is from Allah, not from numbers.
- Consultation (shūrā) and seizing the initiative.
Learn more
▶Video28:19Mercy to the Worlds - Episode 35
▶Video28:32Mercy to the Worlds - Episode 36
▶Video30:21Mercy to the Worlds - Episode 37
▶Video27:50Mercy to the Worlds - Episode 38
▶Video27:46Mercy to the Worlds - Episode 39
Source & authenticity · Compiled from standard Seerah works (principally Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum). Figures are the traditional ones; disputed numbers are flagged. Editorial summaries in our own words, under scholarly review.