CHAPTER 56: THE FIRST BATTLE OF BADR
THE FIRST BATTLE OF BADR
Ibn Ishaq related: Thereafter, upon his return from the battle of Al-Ushairah, Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did not remain in Madinah except a few nights less than ten before he raided Kurz Ibn Jabir Al-Fihri over the pastures of Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) marched forth to seek him until he reached a valley called ‘Safwan’ in the direction of Badr. That was the first battle of Badr. Kuraz escaped and thus he could not catch up with him.
Al-Waqidi said: His standard (on that day) was borne by Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
DETACHMENT OF ABDULLAH IBN JAHSH WHICH WAS INCIDENTAL TO THE GREAT BATTLE OF BADR
Ibn Ishaq related: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) dispatched Abdullah Ibn Jahsh Ibn Ri’ab Al-Asadi in the month of Rajab after returning from the botched first Badr along with a group of eight men from the emigrants and there was not a single Ansari amongst them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) wrote a document for him and ordered him not to open it until they had travelled for two days and then they may read the document and then carry out whatever command contained therein. He was also forbidden to coerce anyone among his companions. When they had travelled for two days, they opened the document and they found written therein: “After you have read my document, proceed until you descend into the palm tree plantation located between Makkah and Ta’if. From here, you will surveil the Quraish and ferret for us information regarding their
movements.” After he had read the document, he responded ‘I have heard and I have obeyed.” He informed his companions of the content of the document and said: “I have been forbidden to coerce anyone of you. So whoever of you desires martyrdom then let him advance and whoever objects to it, let him return.”
Then a caravan of the Quraish passed by them carrying raisin and butter and some of their merchandise. In the caravan was Amr Ibn Al-Hadrami. The people debated on whether to attack the caravan instead and soon after they decided upon attacking the caravan. They embolden themselves against them and fell upon whoever they were able to overpower and then dispossessed them of their belongings.
When they returned to Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) in Madinah he blamed them saying: “I did not send you to fight in the sacred month.” Their brethren from among the believers equally upraided them over what they had done. The Quraish began to spread words around that Muhammad and his companions have violated the sacred month.
When the people became persistent upon that, Allah revealed: “They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, ‘Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can.” (Al-Baqarah [2]:217)
i.e. if you had fought in the sacred month, they had also prevented you from the path of Allah coupled with their disbelief. They had also prevented you from the sacred mosque and had expelled you from there even though you were its inhabitants. All of these are more grievous in the sight of Allah than your killing of those whom you had killed from their rank. Moreover, Al-Fitnah is worse than killing i.e. they had put the Muslim to trial (Fitnah) concerning his faith until they forced him to recant and return to disbelief after his belief. That is far more grievous in the sight of Allah than killing. They have perpetrated something worse and more heinous than that without remorse or restrain.
This is why Allah says: “And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can.” (Al-Baqarah [2]:217)
Ibn Ishaq said: When the feeling of disappointment felt by Abdullah Ibn Jahsh and his companions had eased owing to the revelation of the verse, they aspired for reward. They said: O Messenger of Allah, do we have a hope that our expedition is that of Jihad for which we will obtain the reward of mujahidin?” Then Allah revealed: “Verily, those who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allah’s Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allah, all these hope for Allah’s Mercy. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” (Al-Baqarah [2]:218) Thus Allah described them with a hope greater than their expectation.
Ibn Ishaq said: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq rendered a poem concerning the expedition of Abdullah Ibn Jahsh in response to what the polytheists were saying regarding the desecration of the sacred month. Ibn Hisham, however, said that it was Abdullah Ibn Jahsh himself who rendered it: (excerpt from a long poem)
You consider our killing in the sacred month as something heinous
Meanwhile it is far more heinous in the perception of the guided
conscious mind
Your alienation from what Muhammad is saying
And your disbelief in him, Allah Sees and Witnesses
Your expulsion (of the Believers) from the mosque of Allah
So that they may not be seen in the Mosque prostrating to Allah
By Ibn Katheer
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