THE STORY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD - The Second Badar War That Did Not Be

In the Month Sha'ban in the year 4 Hijriah, Prophet Muhammad along with 1500 of his troops left for Badr to fight again against the idolaters. Before the Uhud war was over, the two troops had made an appointment to meet again in the next battle at Badr.

Previously after the Banu Nadhir event from the Jews came out of Medina, the Muslims felt the burden had been reduced because they did not need to worry about the hypocrites. The Muhajirites were pleased to have acquired land from the former property of the Nadhir people. The Ansar also rejoiced that the Muhajirin had lived independently without needing to depend on them. They feel relieved and for a while they live quiet, safe, and peaceful lives. In such conditions, about a year after the Uhud war, Prophet Muhammad recalled the words of Abu Sufyan at the time of the battle of Uhud, "What is now for the Badr war. See you next year!". That is, after the polytheists were defeated by the Muslims at the first Badar Kubro War, the polytheists could defeat the Muslims in the battle of Uhud as revenge. He also invited Prophet Muhammad to fight again at Badr. But in that year there was a dry season (famine). Actually Abu Sufyan hoped that the war would be held at another time.Then, Abu Sufyan sent Nusaim ibn Mas'ud to Madinah to deliver a message to the Muslims that the Quraysh had deployed large numbers of troops that had never happened before in Arabia. The polytheists were ready to attack the Muslims until they were destroyed without remainder. It seems that there are Muslims who want to avoid that danger. Many of them were reluctant to go to Badr to fight. Rasulullah was angry when he learned the attitudes of the weak Muslims. He swore by telling them that he would go to Badr even though he was alone. Finally, all doubts and feelings of the Muslims soon disappeared. The Muslims immediately get ready to prepare various equipment and carry weapons and go to Badr. Rasulullah handed over the leadership of the city of Medina temporarily to Abdullah inn Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul. He was a faithful Muslim, different from his father who was a hypocritical figure until the end of his life. When the Muslims arrived at Badr, they waited for the arrival of the Quraish polytheists to be vigilant and ready to fight.

Meanwhile, Abu Sufyan departed from Mecca with 2000 idolaters of Mecca. But Abu Sufyan departed reluctantly because of concerns about the consequences of the war against the Muslims. After two days of traveling, Abu Sufyan thought that he should just go home. So he made a decision on the way to return to Mecca and not go to war. He said, "O my brothers from Quraysh, actually what is suitable for us is only in the fertile season, while we are facing a dry season. I decided to go home. Then just go home." So his troops also decided to go home just because they seemed to have the same concerns.

Meanwhile, Rasulullah and the Muslim army continued to wait for the arrival of the Quraysh polytheists for eight days at Badr. There they also can still use the time to trade and make a profit. Then they returned to Medina feeling happy, because besides fighting did not occur, they also benefited from being a gift from Allah SWT. Because of that event, the Muslims again gained their confidence and authority and were able to control the situation. Then comes the word of Allah SWT in Surah Ali Imran verses 168-175:

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ لِإِخۡوَٰنِهِمۡ وَقَعَدُواْ لَوۡ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُواْۗ قُلۡ فَٱدۡرَءُواْ عَنۡ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ  ١٦٨ وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمۡوَٰتَۢاۚ بَلۡ أَحۡيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يُرۡزَقُونَ  ١٦٩ فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَيَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَلۡحَقُواْ بِهِم مِّنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ أَلَّا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ  ١٧٠ ۞يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ بِنِعۡمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضۡلٖ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ  ١٧١ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَآ أَصَابَهُمُ ٱلۡقَرۡحُۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ أَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٌ  ١٧٢ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَٰنٗا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَكِيلُ  ١٧٣ فَٱنقَلَبُواْ بِنِعۡمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضۡلٖ لَّمۡ يَمۡسَسۡهُمۡ سُوٓءٞ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ رِضۡوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَظِيمٍ  ١٧٤ إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوۡلِيَآءَهُۥ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمۡ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ  ١٧٥

168.  Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."

169.  And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,

170.  Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

171.  They receive good tidings of favor from Allah and bounty and [of the fact] that Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost -

172.  Those [believers] who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward -

173.  Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."

174.  So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

175.  That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.

In this way, the unrealized last Badr war completely erased the influence of the Uhud war. The Quraysh polytheists seemed to be waiting for another opportunity with them to remain tainted because of cowardice that was no better than their defeat at the first Badr war. Prophet Muhammad was grateful for having received the help of Allah SWT and his heart felt secure because the authority of the Muslims had returned. But they remained vigilant against all the tricks of the enemy and always watched various directions until finally they got the real victory with the perfection of the religion of Islam.

Reference:

·         Mubarakfuri, Syekh Shafiyyur-Rahman, and Haidir, Abdullah (Translator). 2005. Sejarah Hidup dan Perjuangan Rasulullah. Riyadh: Kantor Dakwah dan Bimbingan bagi Pendatang Al-Sulay.

·         Haekal, Muhammad Husain, and Audah, Ali (Translator). Sejarah Hidup Muhammad.