Despite the disparity in numbers, the Muslim army fought with unparalleled bravery, fueled by a singular conviction: either a victory or the honor of martyrdom. Allah Almighty gave us a vivid description of those critical moments in Surah Aal-Imran, where He said;
And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah; perhaps you will be grateful. [Remember] when you said to the believers, “Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down. Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction].
(وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ. إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ. بَلَىٰ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ.)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) marched with them until they stopped in the evening at the waters of Badr. He then said, ”Advise me regarding the place where we should camp.” Al-Hubab ibn al-Mundhir said: ”O Messenger of Allah, if you see fit, we should proceed to some wells that we know to have abundant and sweet water. We will camp there before the enemy reaches them, and we will block the other wells.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then sent Ali, Saad, and Al-Zubayr to Badr to seek information. They returned with two slaves belonging to Quraysh. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked them: ”Tell me where Quraysh are.” They replied, ”They are behind this sandhill.” He asked, ”How many are they?” They said, ”We do not know.” He then asked, ”How many camels do they slaughter each day?” They said, ”One day ten, and another day nine.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said: ”The people number between nine hundred and a thousand.” That night Allah sent down rain. It fell heavily upon the polytheists, preventing them from advancing, while it fell lightly upon the Muslims, purifying them with it and removing from them the whisperings of Shaytan. A shelter was then built for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on an elevated place overlooking the battlefield. He walked through the battlefield, pointing with his hand and saying: ”This is where so-and-so will fall, and this is where so-and-so will fall, if Allah wills.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spent that night in prayer, supplication, devotion, and humble pleading to Allah, saying: ”O Allah, if this small group is destroyed today, You will not be worshipped. O Allah, if You will, You will not be worshipped after today.” He continued in his supplication until his cloak fell from his shoulders. When morning came, Quraysh advanced in their battalions, and the two sides formed their ranks facing one another. The battle began when Utbah ibn Rabiah, his brother Shaybah ibn Rabiah, and Al-Walid ibn Utbah came forward seeking single combat. Hamzah ibn Abd A-Muttalib went out to confront him and killed him before he could drink from it.
The Beginning of the Battle
The battle began with Utbah ibn Rabiah, his brother Shaybah ibn Rabiah, and Al-Walid ibn Utbah came forward seeking single combat. Three men from the Ansar went out to face them. They asked, ”Who are you?” They replied, ”We are from the Ansar.” They said, ”Noble and worthy opponents, but we only seek our cousins.” Then Ali, Ubaydah ibn Al-Harith, and Ḥamzah stepped forward to face them. Ali killed his opponent Al-Walid, and Hamzah killed his opponent Utbah (it is also said Shaybah). Ubaydah and his opponent exchanged two powerful blows. Then Ali and Ḥamzah turned toward the opponent of Ubaydah and killed him. Then the two armies clashed, and a fierce battle ensued. Then divine support arrived in the form of a thousand angels led by the angel Jibril (AS). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out, saying: ”The enemy will be defeated and they will turn in retreat.” He then took a handful of pebbles and threw them toward Quraysh, saying: ”Their faces have become blemished!” He struck them in the faces with the pebbles, and none of the polytheists escaped without having their eyes, noses, and mouths hit.
Allah granted victory to His Messenger (ﷺ) and the believers, despite their small numbers and limited equipment. As a result of the battle, several leaders of the polytheists were killed, including Amr ibn Al-Hisham (Abu Jahl), Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and Al-Aas ibn Al-Hisham. Seventy of them were taken captive, while the remaining polytheists fled, leaving behind abundant spoils on the battlefield. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stayed at Badr for three days and buried the Muslim martyrs there.
