Battle of Badr: Last Words of Abu Jahl - AI Visualized - O Messenger | Ep. 6
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The year is 624. The month is Ramadan. The day that will change the course of history. At Badr, two armies stand face to face. On one side, the fully equipped Quraish army of 950 men, and on the other, the Muslim army of only 313 men with very limited resources. Ahadun Ahad (One [God], One [God])! Justice standing against oppression, faith rising against disbelief. The very first battle to reveal the true spirit of Islam. The Battle of Badr. That critical day had come. The day that would shape the future of Islam. Either Islam would begin to rise with a great victory, or everything would end right there on that battlefield.
That's why the Prophet (upon him be prayer and peace) was begging Allah, praying to Him with these words: "O Allah, if You destroy this small group of believers, there will be no one left on this Earth to worship You." So, what would happen on that battlefield? And even before that, how did events come to this point? Let's take a step back. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources. All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. While establishing the new state in Medina, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had also set up an intelligence system.
He wanted to know in advance of any possible threats to the city and to gather information about the nearby areas. In the second year after the Hijra (migration), a report came through this network. The Quraish had sent out a huge trade caravan led by Abu Sufyan. Of course, this caravan was not made up of their own goods alone. Remember the time of Hijra (migration). The Muslims were forced to migrate under very harsh conditions. They had to leave all their possessions behind in Mecca when they set out. Then those goods were seized by the Quraish and added to that caravan to be sold. The believers' hard-earned possessions were now about to become weapons in the hands of their enemies.
Even during the Hijra (migration), the Messenger of Mercy and Justice (peace be upon him) thought of the belongings of the idolaters and appointed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to return them to their owners. But the Quraish showed no such sense of morality and seized the possessions of the Muhajirun (migrants). The time had come to show the Mushrikun (polytheists), who had driven the Muslims out of their homes and treated them with all kinds of cruelty, who truly held the power. They needed to see that they could no longer do whatever they wanted, and they had to be shown something that would strike fear into them.
They were not going to stop unless they saw real physical strength standing against them. So, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent a scout to follow the caravan. Then he said to his companions, "Whoever has an animal to ride, let him ride it and come with us." Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) began to make preparations for a possible encounter with the Quraish. The companions were very eager to join this expedition. So much so that there were even fathers and sons who drew lots to decide who would go. Each of them longed for the honor of martyrdom. Soon, an army of companions was gathered, more than 300 in number.
There were also some very young ones among them. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not allow those who were too young to join the army and sent them back. Umayr ibn Abi Waqqas, who was only 16 years old, was also there. Despite his young age, he really wanted to join this expedition. He tried to hide himself, hoping that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not see him and send him back. But when Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) noticed him, he said, "You have to go back too." Umayr was short, and until then, he had never strapped a sword to his waist. His body was small, but his heart was big and full of courage.
Even though Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) initially wanted to send him back, he could not ignore the determination of this young warrior. So he allowed Umayr to join the army. When permission was given, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas tied his brother's sword around his waist. As Umayr walked, his sword dragged along the ground, leaving a line behind him. And that young man would later become one of the martyrs of Badr. At that time, the beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Ruqayyah, was seriously ill. Yet, despite her condition, the Prophet ﷺ did not hold back from setting out on this expedition. But he left his son-in-law, Uthman ibn Affan, in Medina to take care of her.
When the preparations were complete, an army of 313 men was assembled. Under the scorching sun, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah ﷺ) set out for Badr with his companions. Because there were several water wells there, caravans would often pass through this area. The army had very few riding animals. Only two horses and 70 camels. The Prophet (peace be upon him), Ali, and Marthad ibn Abi Marthad shared one camel, taking turns to ride it.
When it was the Prophet's turn to walk, the other two said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you ride, and we will walk instead of you." But the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused and said, "You are not stronger than me when it comes to walking, and I need good deeds and the reward from Allah just as much as you do." And so, they continued on their way. At one point along the journey, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) looked at his army. Some of them were walking barefoot with nothing to protect their feet for the battle. He prayed, "O Allah, these soldiers have no animals to carry them, so You carry them.
O Allah, they have nothing to wear, and they are hungry, so You clothe them and feed them." They were living in poverty, but they knew that the true strength came from faith. And that faith, in the most beautiful form, was present in this army. Before they had even reached the plains of Badr, Abu Sufyan learned that the Muslims were marching there as an army. "The Muslims are coming!" From the moment he set out, he feared that the Muslims might intercept them. And now, what he feared came true. He immediately sent one of his men to Quraish to deliver the news and changed their route. He was going to lead the caravan to Mecca by a different path. The man reached Mecca as fast as he could.
Running through the streets, he shouted, "O Quraish! Muhammad and his companions have attacked your caravan! All your goods will be lost! Hurry! Go and help Abu Sufyan! Fear spread throughout Mecca because almost every family had wealth invested in that caravan. They quickly prepared and gathered an army of 950 men. With 100 horsemen and 700 camels, the fully equipped army set out for Badr. Leading them was Abu Jahl, one of the fiercest enemies of Islam. Abu Lahab, on the other hand, made his illness an excuse and sent someone else in his place. The Quraish army was marching towards Badr with songs and drums.
After some time, Abu Jahl received a message: "You had set out to protect your caravan and your men. Both are safe now, so you can return." The one who sent this message was Abu Sufyan. He had safely brought the caravan back to Mecca and was now asking them to come back. Most of the army wanted to return, but Abu Jahl, who held a grudge against the Muslims, had no intention of doing so. There was a thousand-strong, fully equipped army under his command. For him, this was an opportunity he could never miss. He was sure that he could wipe out all the Muslims. He said, "We can't go back now. We must go to Badr. We'll stay there for three days, slaughter camels, eat and drink wine.
We'll have the slave women sing to entertain us. The Arabs will gather to watch us. And from then on, they'll always fear us." He managed to convince the army, and they set off once again. When the news reached the Prophet (peace be upon him) that the caravan had arrived in Mecca and that the Quraish were marching to Badr with a large army, he was surprised. He wasn't expecting such a move. So he gathered his companions to discuss what to do.
First, Miqdad ibn al-Aswad from the Muhajirun (migrants) stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah, we will not be like the Children of Israel who said to Moses, 'So you and your Lord go and fight, and we will stay here.' We are ready to fight alongside you to the very end. Do whatever your Lord has commanded you. We will follow you." These words greatly pleased the Prophet (peace be upon him). But he also wanted to hear from the Ansar (helpers). Because at the Pledge of Aqaba, they had promised to protect him inside Medina. But would they offer him the same protection outside it too? Sa'd ibn Mu'adh stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we have believed in you. We have trusted you.
We testify that what you brought to us is the truth. We promised to listen and to obey you with full commitment." Just imagine for a moment that right now, we are also marching to Badr with the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s army. Would we be able to say what they said? I can almost hear you saying, "Yes, of course, we would say the same thing." But saying it is easy, and living up to it is much harder. Because let's look at today. Isn't the mission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ still continuing? Absolutely. But what have we really sacrificed for it so far? Don't we often hide behind all kinds of excuses just to skip even a single prayer?
After hearing the sincere words of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, the worry on the Prophet's ﷺ face disappeared. And he said, "Allah Azza wa Jal (Mighty and Majestic) has promised me one of two things: either the caravan or a clear victory. By Allah, it is as though I can see the exact places where the enemy will fall. Allah's help is with you." The decision to fight was now final. Standing against them was a fully equipped army three times their number. But that could never be an obstacle for the Muslims. Their courage came from the faith in their hearts, and their helper was Allah, Whose power is above all things.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was positioning his troops at Badr, keeping the water wells in front of them. At that moment, Hubab ibn al-Mundhir, who was in his 30s and known for his skill in battle strategy, came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked, "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), is this location for camp commanded by Allah?" Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) replied, "No, I chose this place as a part of the war plan." Hearing this, Hubab made a suggestion: "Forgive me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but I don't think this is the best spot. Let's move and set up camp near the water, close to the place where the Quraish will settle. There's a well there with plenty of fresh water.
First, we can dig a pool and fill it with water, and then close off all the other wells. That way, whenever we get thirsty, we will drink from our pool while they'll be left without water and so end up in a difficult situation." The Prophet (peace be upon him) found this suggestion wise and accepted it. Notice here how much Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) valued consultation. He didn't say, "I am the Prophet, it will be as I say." Once again, he showed that he was a true example in every way. Next came planning the battle. The Prophet (peace be upon him) carefully arranged his army. He lined them up so that the archers stood at the back and those carrying spears stood in front.
Then he said, "Do not leave your lines or break formation. Hold your ground patiently. Do not move. Don't start fighting until I give the order. Don't waste your arrows by shooting them before the enemy gets close. Shoot your arrows when the enemy lowers their shield. When the enemy gets nearer, use your spears and javelins. The sword comes last. Use it only in close combat." The Muslim army was ready to face the Quraish. When night came, everyone fell asleep to rest. Everyone except one man: The Messenger of Allah (upon him be prayer and peace). He spent the whole night praying and pleading to Allah. "O Allah, fulfill Your promise to me.
O Allah, if this small group of Muslims is destroyed, there will be no one left on Earth to worship You." And this heartfelt prayer would be answered in the Quran. In the ninth ayah (verse) of Surah Al-Anfal: "When you were calling your Lord for help, He responded to you: 'I am going to support you with one thousand of the angels, one following the other.'" Yes, Allah would not abandon this handful of believers who were fighting in His cause. He would support them with His unseen armies, with His angels. Finally, the day of battle had arrived. When the Quraish army reached the plains of Badr, they were shaken by what they saw.
"They've taken control of all the wells!" The Muslims had already taken control of the area that held strategic importance. But still, relying on their large numbers, they thought victory would come easily. When the two armies faced each other, there were 313 Muslims against 950 Quraish fighters. Ahadun Ahad (One [God], One [God])! Difference in numbers was striking. The material advantage was with the Quraish. But spiritually, the situation was the complete opposite. On one side, the shouts of Takbir (Allahu Akbar) echoed across the field... Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the Greatest!) ...while on the other, drums and songs filled the air.
On one side stood an army that drew its strength from Allah and stood against oppression, and on the other was an army that fought only to oppress and to spill blood. Then, one of the leaders of Quraish, Utba ibn Rabi'ah, stepped forward with his brother Shayba ibn Rabi'ah and his son Walid. This was a common pre-battle tradition known as Mubaraza (duel). Before the fighting began, one, two, or three warriors would step forward for a duel, and then the real battle would start. Three young men from the Ansar (helpers)— Awf, Mu'awwidh, and Abdullah ibn Rawaha— stepped forward. Utba looked at them and with a mocking tone asked, "Who are you?" "Who are you?!
O Muhammad, send us our equals to fight!" He did not want to fight with anyone else. His hatred was for the clan of Banu Hashim. So Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) called the Muslims of Medina back. But who would the Messenger of Allah ﷺ choose? From the Muhajirun (migrants), he sent forward Ubaydah ibn al-Harith, Hamza, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both). -"Who's coming out?" -"Ubaydah, and Ali." -"Ali?" -"And the third, who is it?" -"Hamza." -"No, Hamza. This is not good." All three of those chosen by the Prophet (peace be upon him) were from his own family. This time, Utba was satisfied with those who stood before him. And the duels began.
Hamza faced Shayba. Ali faced Walid. And Ubaydah began his duel with Utba. After just a few strikes, the opponents of Ali and Hamza lay dead on the ground. But Ubaydah and Utba were still fighting fiercely. According to the tradition of Mubaraza (duel), the one who defeated his opponent could then go and help the others. So Hamza and Ali quickly rushed to help Ubaydah and killed Utba. Then they carried the wounded Ubaydah back to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was bleeding heavily, but he did not care at all. His mind was on something else.
He kept saying, "O Messenger of Allah, am I not a martyr?" "Yes, Ubaydah, you are a martyr." Hearing these words, a look of peace appeared on Ubaydah's face. And soon after, he passed away and attained the rank of martyrdom. He became a Shaheed (martyr). There was still a smile on his face because Shahada (martyrdom), to give their life for the sake of Allah, was not death for them, but a reunion with the Beloved. The Quraish army was in shock. The bravest men they knew, the powerful leader of the Quraish, Utba, his brother Shayba, and his son Walid, now lay dead on the field of Badr.
Trying to lift his army's morale, Abu Jahl shouted, "Don't be shaken by the deaths of Utba, Shayba, and Walid! They rushed forward and died for nothing! I swear today, victory will be ours! Muhammad and his companions are just a small bite for us!" Then he reorganized his troops. When the command was given, both sides charged forward. Battle began with full force. Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) himself was at the front, fighting alongside his companions. He did not say, "I am the Prophet, you go and fight." Instead, he was encouraging them with his words and filling their hearts with courage.
He fought with such bravery that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) later said, "That day, the bravest of all was him. No one was closer to the enemy lines than he was." Hamza, Ali, and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) were cutting down anyone who stood in their path. With their swords, they were slicing through the enemy lines as they moved forward. The companions were fighting with all their strength. That day, among those on the battlefield was Abu al-Bakhtari ibn Hisham. Do we remember this name? Back then, when the Muslims were under boycott in Mecca, five men had come together with a plan.
They stood in different parts of the street, spoke out against the boycott, and gained strong support from the people. Abu al-Bakhtari was one of those five men. So, he was one of the reasons the boycott came to an end. And now, he was on that battlefield too, but not on the side of the Muslims. Before the battle began, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had declared that some individuals were not to be harmed. And Abu al-Bakhtari was one of them. Isn't that an amazing example of gratitude and loyalty? Prophet (peace be upon him) was giving him one more chance to believe. During the battle, Abu al-Bakhtari came face to face with one of the companions, Mujadhdhir ibn Ziyad.
But Mujadhdhir avoided fighting him because he knew the Prophet's ﷺ command. Abu al-Bakhtari could not understand this and asked, "Why won't you fight me?" When Mujadhdhir told him what the Prophet ﷺ had said, Abu al-Bakhtari got angry and shouted, "Even though he said that, I will fight you here today!" He ignored the Prophet's kindness and attacked Mujadhdhir. Mujadhdhir tried to avoid him, but he had no other choice. He fought back. And in the end, Abu al-Bakhtari was killed. The battle was now at its peak. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a handful of dust, threw it towards the enemy army, and prayed, "May their faces be darkened!
O Allah, fill their hearts with fear and make their feet tremble!" That handful of dust reached the eyes of the entire enemy army. They could not see a thing. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (Glorified and Exalted be He) described this very event in the Quran: "And you did not throw when you threw, but it was Allah who threw." After a while, a wind like no other began to blow. Nothing could be seen. And the Quraish were scattered in every direction. Then a second wind came, followed by a third. Allah had fulfilled His promise and sent His angels to help. The Quraish were stunned. Because they had thought they were only facing an army of 300.
But suddenly, in their eyes, the Muslim army appeared far greater and mightier. Abu Jahl, who had said, "They are just a small bite for us" before the battle, was now looking for a place to hide. Everyone was after this enemy of Islam. They were racing each other to kill him. Two young brothers from the Ansar (helpers) came to Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf and asked who Abu Jahl was. Ibn Awf asked, "What will you do with him?" "I heard that he insulted the Prophet. I have made an oath to Allah that if I were to see him, we would not part until one of us is dead." Those brave young men were Mu'adh and Mu'awwidh. At that moment, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf saw Abu Jahl and pointed at him.
"There is your man." They both rushed towards him at once. Abu Jahl did not take them seriously, and he mocked them, saying, "You foolish boys! So eager to die?" But things did not turn out the way he thought. Mu'adh got close and struck his leg. Then Abu Jahl's son Ikrimah jumped in and he hit Mu'adh hard. At that moment, Mu'awwidh struck another blow to Abu Jahl and brought him down. "Had the Pharaoh of this Ummah (community) really died?" They both ran up to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and told him that they had killed Abu Jahl. Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) wanted to be sure. So he ordered the companions to look for Abu Jahl among the dead.
Abdullah ibn Masud was the one who found him. Abu Jahl had not yet died. He was taking his last breaths. Ibn Masud put his foot on his neck and said, "O enemy of Allah! Do you see? Allah has humiliated you." Even as he was dying, Abu Jahl was still arrogant. He replied, "You have stepped on a high place, O son of a shepherd. It's nothing new for a great man to be killed by his own people and tribe. Now tell me, who has the victory today?" Ibn Masud said, "Allah, and His Messenger." With those words, he had already killed him in spirit before he actually killed him. Do you remember Abdullah ibn Masud?
He was the one who once went to the Kaaba and openly recited Surah Ar-Rahman for the first time. But the idolaters immediately attacked him and beat him nearly to death. But now, the tables had turned. He picked up Abu Jahl's sword from the ground and struck the final blow that ended his life. Here, there was another amazing detail. Before the battle began, the Prophet (upon him be prayer and peace) had shown the exact spots where the leaders of Mecca would be killed. And Abu Jahl died in the very place he had described. Another leader, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, also fell exactly where the Prophet ﷺ had pointed. And so did the others.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say, "I swear by the One who sent him with the truth, not one of them fell beyond the place where Allah's Messenger ﷺ had placed his hand." As a miracle from Allah, he had foretold not only who would die, but also where they would die. Once the leaders of Mecca had been killed one after another, the Quraish army broke apart. And the disbelievers ran for their lives without even looking back. In fact, this very scene had been foretold in the Quran years earlier. In the 44th and 45th ayat (verses) of Surah Al-Qamar, Allah says: "Am yaqooloona nahnu jamee'un muntasir.
Sayuhzamul jam'u wa yuwallounad-dubur." Meaning: "Do they say we are a great army and we shall be victorious? Soon, this large group will be defeated, and all of them will turn their backs and flee." Remember the days in Mecca. The Muslims were so few in number compared to the disbelievers. They suffered in every way. Sometimes under a boycott that lasted for three years. Sometimes they were stoned and beaten, and sometimes mocked and humiliated. At a time when the Muslims were still so weak, these ayat (verses) foretold that they would soon achieve victory over the powerful city of Mecca.
It said, "They will turn their backs and run." This prophecy that was revealed in their time of greatest hardship once again proved the truth of the Quran: that it was sent by Allah. And Allah fulfilled His promise and granted them victory. At Towards Eternity, we have worked tirelessly to bring you this AI visualized series. And now, InshaAllah (God willing), we want to produce a new series on the lives of our noble Prophets Alayhi-s-Salam (peace be upon them). Prophets like Musa, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Yunus Alayhi-s-Salam (peace be upon them). So you and your family can watch their stories with Towards Eternity quality production. But making a new series also brings major costs.
AI, professional voiceover, and equipment. And unfortunately, we can no longer cover it on our own. We can only complete this project with your support. Our team has divided the total need into $25 shares, so you can support by sponsoring one or more shares according to your ability, InshaAllah (God willing). If you want to be a part of these good deeds, donate to Towards Eternity and don't miss this golden opportunity. 14 Muslims were martyred on the field of Badr. They were the brave men who had turned their lives into a fortress for Islam and a shield for the Messenger of Allah (upon him be prayer and peace).
And those who survived would forever be honored as Ashabul Badr (Companions of Badr). Because Badr was not an ordinary battle. For the Muslims, it was perhaps the most critical battle in history. Because their numbers were very few. And if they had been defeated here, they would have become even fewer. That would have given the Quraish a perfect chance to destroy the Muslims completely. So what did the enemy's side look like? In the battle, 70 men from the Quraish were killed. And another 70 were taken captive. So, what would be done with them? Two conditions were set. "Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) offers you two options.
You will either pay a ransom to gain your freedom or teach 10 children of Medina how to read and write." Only under these conditions they could be released. This showed how deeply Islam values knowledge and learning. Among the captives was also the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s uncle, Abbas. He had fought on the side of the Quraish. Like the others, he too had to either teach 10 children to read and write or pay a ransom. But he told Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah) "I have no money." Then the Messenger of Allah asked, "O Abbas, what about the gold? The gold you gave to your wife Umm al-Fadl on the day you left Mecca?
When you handed it to her, there was no one there except the two of you. And you said to her, 'I don't know what will happen to me on this journey. If something happens and I do not return, this much gold is for you, this much for Fadl, this much for Abdullah, this much for Ubaydullah, and this much for Qusam.' So where is that gold?" Indeed, it had happened exactly as the Prophet (peace be upon him) described. Abbas was shocked. He asked, "Who told you this?" "By Allah, no one knew about it except me and Ummal-Fadl." The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Allah told me." Before that moment, it wasn't clear whether Abbas had secretly accepted Islam or not. He still had doubts.
But on that day, after witnessing this miracle, he became Muslim. "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah." He returned to Mecca and kept his faith hidden. From there, he would secretly send news to the Prophet ( (peace be upon him) and help the Muslims in his city. Another captive was Suhail ibn Amr. He was a powerful speaker and had spoken harshly against the Muslims in the past. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) knew Suhail very well. He was one of the leading figures of Quraish.
When Umar saw him among the captives, he said, "O Messenger of Allah, allow me to pull out this man's front teeth so that he will never be able to speak against you again." With his powerful words, he used to encourage the Quraish to stand against us. But the Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him) replied with words whose true meaning would only become clear years later: "Leave him, O Umar. It is hoped that one day he will be in a position that will make you pleased." Suhail would later embrace Islam. And on the day the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, when Mecca was overwhelmed with grief, he would give a speech that would calm their hearts.
While everyone was devastated, as if their whole world had collapsed, Suhail's soothing words would bring peace to the crowd. And it was on that day that Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would finally understand what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had meant. With this victory, the Muslims had become a force that could no longer be taken lightly. While there was joy and celebration in Medina, Mecca was filled with sorrow. The city had lost its most important men on that battlefield. Abu Lahab was already ill and had grown old. The grief of this news was more than he could bear. Consumed by his rage and sorrow, he died within a week.
Out of fear that his illness might be contagious, even his own sons did not approach his body for some time. When the smell became unbearable, they finally dragged it away and buried it somewhere. And so, another fierce enemy of Islam was also gone. Everything was turning in favor of the Muslims. After losing 14 martyrs, the Muslims returned from Badr. The battle had been won with a crushing victory over the Quraish. And so the army was filled with the joy of triumph. But that joy did not last long. "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), your daughter, Ruqayyah... has passed away." When the Messenger of Allah arrived, he received the devastating news. He was deeply shaken.
He couldn't even see his daughter in her final moments. Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) had once said, "The people who are tested the most severely with trials are first the Prophets, and the next best people according to their religious commitment." This was not the first time he had felt the pain of losing a child. Before this, he had already buried his sons Qasim and Abdullah. And then there was his eldest daughter, Zaynab. She had married before Islam. But her husband, Abu al-Aas, had not yet become Muslim. On the day of Badr, Abu al-Aas was also among the captives. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ released him on the condition that he would send Zaynab to Medina.
At that time, she was pregnant. But blinded by their hatred after Badr, the idolaters wanted to harm her. Just as she was about to leave, they viciously frightened her camel, and Zaynab fell onto a rock. She had lost her baby. She arrived in Medina in that state, and her father received her with deep sorrow. Should he grieve for the loss of his grandchild or for the pain of his daughter? The miscarriage Zaynab suffered left lasting effects on her health. And a few years later, she too passed away. Losing even one child is a pain only those who have lived it can truly understand. Yet Rasulullah (peace be upon him) endured it not once, but six times.
And the trials he faced were not limited to losing his loved ones. Allah allowed him to go through these severe trials for a reason. If his life had been free from sorrow or hardship, how could he have been a true example for us? How could he have guided those struggling with life's difficulties and all of humanity? For more than 1400 years, everyone in his Ummah (community) who faced trials has found comfort in his Sira (biography). Each one could see their own pain reflected in his life. And one of the most remarkable qualities of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was that, despite all the hardships he went through, he could still smile.
He would open his heart to his Lord, pour out his worries, and seek refuge in Him. He would see the good in everything and always look at the bright side. He would think with beauty and hope. And that's how he was able to leave his sorrows behind. He could focus on the new blessings that Allah sent his way and find comfort in them. One of those blessings was the marriage of his beloved daughter Fatima. Among all people, she was the one who resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the most. And she was going to marry Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the one the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself had raised and taught since childhood.
The blessed lineage of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would continue through Fatima and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both). With a very simple and modest wedding, free from any show or extravagance, a peaceful and loving home was built. And that home was blessed with two beautiful children, Hasan and Husayn. The Prophet (peace be upon him) showed his grandsons love and compassion unlike any other. Messenger of Allah ﷺ was giving the Khutbah (sermon) when he noticed Hasan and Husayn stumbling right there in front of all of us. He stepped down from the pulpit, picked them up, and then went back up.
While the Rasulullah was in Sajdah (prostration) during Salah (prayer), Hasan climbed onto his back. And he stayed in Sajdah (prostration) longer just so he wouldn't interrupt his play. He would say, "They are my two fragrant flowers from this world." He would kiss them on their heads and necks, breathe in their scent, and hold them close. Such affection, especially for that time, was something extremely rare. Once, a man saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing Hasan and asked, "Do you kiss your children?
I have ten children, and I have never kissed any one of them." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully." He did not just have compassion for his grandsons; he showed it to all children. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, a 12-year-old boy named Anas ibn Malik was brought to help him with daily tasks. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) built such confidence in him, raised him with such care and kindness that Anas grew into an extraordinary man. Through him, Rasulullah ﷺ showed another beautiful example of how to raise a child.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say, "The Prophet never said to me any harsh word. And he never said to me about anything I did, 'Why did you do that?' or about anything I didn't do, 'Why didn't you do that?'" He served the Prophet and stayed under his care for 10 years. Anas then grew into one of the most knowledgeable and respected companions. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) married his daughter Fatima to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who was known and praised for his courage, deep knowledge, and wisdom.
And he married his daughter Umm Kulthum to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), the one he called "my companion in Paradise." Uthman was so modest that even the angels admired his modesty and felt shy before him. He was a highly respected companion and had the unique honor of becoming the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s son-in-law twice. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ married his two beloved flowers to two of the most virtuous men on Earth. But what about the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself? Did he marry again after Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her)? When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, he found a large and growing Muslim community.
And of course, it wasn't made up of men only. There were also many women among the companions. They too wanted to live and learn the religion. But it wasn't appropriate for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to personally and frequently interact with women. Additionally, they couldn't ask him about everything freely. After all, he was a man, and there were things they felt shy to ask. So they needed women they could learn from. And those women would be the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who would act as teachers for the women of the Ummah. They could ask his wives about things they could not ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) and learn from them whenever they wished.
The companions spent their days observing Rasulullah's (Messenger of Allah's) words and behavior. But they could not see how he lived at home, his family life. It was his wives who would share those parts of his life with the people. That is why, while in Mecca, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) lived for about 11 years with only one wife. But after migrating to Medina, he lived with multiple wives. Unfortunately, some enemies of Islam tried to slander him, claiming that he was driven by lust. Ma'zallah (God forbid). Since they could not find any other way to refute his prophethood, they resorted to such accusations. But the way he lived his life completely disproved this claim.
At the age of 25, when he was admired by many people in the tribe, he married a 40-year-old woman, Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). If he had wanted, there was hardly anyone who wouldn't have given him their daughter in marriage. And until the age of 50, he did not marry anyone else. Lust, however, is strongest in a person between the ages of 15 and 40. And during that very period, he lived with a single wife and set a perfect example of chastity and morality. It was only after the age of 50 that he began a life with multiple wives. And the reason for this was clearly religious education. Half of the Ummah (community) were women, and the other half, the men, were raised by women.
So it was extremely important to educate Muslim women. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) needed to have wives with different abilities and qualities. In fact, there was a crucial need, because nearly half of our religion was taught to the people by the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s wives. And among them, the one who played the greatest role was our mother Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her). She was an exceptionally intelligent and capable woman. Whenever the companions faced a religious matter they couldn't solve or understand, they would go to her and ask from behind a curtain.
For example, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, a companion known for his knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, once said: "Us companions, whenever we needed clarification and asked Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), we would find that she had knowledge about it." She dedicated her youth and all her abilities to learning Islam more deeply. In this way, after the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s passing, she remained a source of knowledge for 46 years. Someone people could always turn to with their questions. Actually, this is something critically important for us. Our religion has two main sources.
One is the Quran, and the other is the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s life, his way—in short, his Sunnah (tradition). If you wanted to know something about the Messenger of Allah while he was alive, you could simply ask him. But what about after his passing? You would have to turn to those who knew him best. His closest ones. His wives. The ones who witnessed every moment of his life. And our mother Ayesha was one of the seven companions who narrated the most Hadith. Just think. If all of the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s wives had passed away only a few years after him, wouldn't that have left a huge gap behind?
Another strange thing is that, as we said earlier, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) had multiple wives, some people accuse him of lust. But these people don't look at all of his marriages. He married women who were in their 40s and 50s. Widows living with their children. Through these marriages, he became a father figure to 12 orphan children, taking responsibility for their care. People today hesitate even to marry a widow with only one child. And even if they do, how well they fulfill the role of a father is another question. Yet all 12 of those children looked up to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with admiration.
When he carried such an extraordinary responsibility, could his marriages possibly have anything to do with lust? I will leave that for you to decide. So how was the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s relationship with his wives in all these marriages? Normally, a leader or a ruler has dozens, even hundreds of matters to deal with, right? And he often does not have enough time for many of them. Especially when it comes to his own family, a lot of times he has to make many sacrifices. But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had an incredible sense of time management. Just think about it. There were constant political tensions with Mecca. And he always had to be prepared and cautious about them.
At the same time, within Medina itself, there were many political factors trying to cause trouble. Especially the activities of the hypocrites and the problems caused by the Jews. We will see both of these more clearly in the following episodes. He also had to handle those challenges. And at the same time, he needed to keep an eye on the other Arab tribes and neighboring states as well. And on top of all this, he had to lead the prayer in the Masjid (mosque) five times a day. While also answering the questions of dozens of companions. He had to teach them. In times of war, he would lead the army. Every night he would interrupt his sleep to stand in prayer.
He lived a life of worship that no one from his Ummah (community) has ever surpassed in 1400 years. Believe me, as you go through the pages of the Sira (biography), this list only keeps growing. He had to carry out all of these responsibilities successfully. And he truly did. So with such a busy life, how much time and attention do you think a man could give to his wives? He showed such care and attention to them that even after 1400 years, no one has reached that level. Despite having an endless list of duties, how could he still find time to have a running race with Ayesha from time to time?
When Safiyyah was about to mount her camel, the Messenger of Allah bent down and offered his knee as a step for her. With all the responsibilities he carried, how could he think of such a thoughtful gesture? Once, our mother Ayesha became upset with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and raised her voice. When her father Abu Bakr heard this from outside, he became angry and wanted to hit her. So what did the Prophet (peace be upon him) do? He stopped him, sent him away, and then jokingly said to Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Did you see how I saved you from that man?" He showed a level of patience and kindness that is impossible to find in any other man.
Far from getting angry or raising his hand, he even made a joke. On one side, there are men who never ask their wives' opinions, not even about matters that concern them. On the other side, we see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who would consult his wives and act on their advice even in critical matters. He would tell his wives he loved them. He would praise their good qualities, appreciate them, and make them feel valued. While receiving revelation from Allah, while speaking with Jibril, while the angels stood before him in respect, how could he still show such kindness to all of his wives? The answer is simple. Because he was the best example sent by Allah.
Throughout history, every well-known person has been an example in only two or three of their qualities. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a perfect example in every one of his qualities. In his character, in his manners, everything. And do you know what the most remarkable part is? Even in qualities that are rarely found together at a high level, he was the best example too. What do I mean by that? For instance, if a person is very compassionate, you might notice some weakness in their sense of justice. Or if someone's sense of justice is very strong, you might see a lack of compassion. But he excelled in both qualities at the same time.
If a person is very bold and courageous, you usually don't expect them to stay calm and gentle when they need to be. And if someone is calm and mild-mannered, they usually don't act boldly when the time comes. But again, the Prophet (peace be upon him) surpassed everyone in both of these qualities. Likewise, if someone is always quick to act, you don't expect them to be cautious. And if someone is very cautious, you hardly ever see them taking quick or daring actions. But again, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) was ahead of everyone in both. He was a man of peace, while at the same time showing the strongest hatred for the sake of Allah.
He was extremely careful with spending, but he was also extremely generous. And so on. When Bediuzzaman Said Nursi made this comparison, he described this aspect of the Messenger of Allah as "the miracle of miracles." Now that we have taken a look at the family life and the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let's turn to what happened after Badr. If you remember, one of the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s biggest challenges was avoiding divisions among the people in Medina. Also mentioned that the Jewish tribes would cause much trouble in this regard.
So, to prevent potential conflicts and live together in peace, the Prophet (peace be upon him) prepared a treaty after the Hijra (migration). And they agreed to it. But after Badr, tension began to rise among the Jewish tribes of Medina. The Muslims' victory brought out the jealousy and hatred hidden in their hearts. They began reciting poems that insulted the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Muslims. They were also trying other ways to provoke them. But then, they did something that crossed the line. One day, the wife of a Muslim went into a jewelry shop run by a Jew from the Banu Qaynuqa tribe. She had covered her face out of modesty.
While she was sitting there, some of the Jews started to bother her and tried to uncover her face. When she refused, one of them came from behind and attached one part of her clothes to another with a thorn. When she stood up, her skirt suddenly opened up. And the Jews burst into laughter at this disgusting act. The Muslim woman screamed in shock. Hearing her cry, one of the companions rushed into the shop. Filled with anger, he grabbed the Jew by the neck, and in the fight that broke out, he killed him. Then the other Jews attacked the companion and beat him to death. He was martyred. The news of this incident quickly reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Without delay, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) gathered the Banu Qaynuqa and spoke to them. He firmly told them to stop causing trouble and their arrogant, disrespectful behavior, and then invited them to Islam. But instead of listening and correcting themselves, they replied with arrogance. "O Muhammad! Don't be deceived by your victory over people who know nothing about war. We are not like them. We are skilled fighters. If you dare to face us, you will see what kind of men we are." After this open challenge, they left. They had broken the treaty of Medina. The Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately gathered his companions and ordered them to prepare for battle.
He was going to respond to their challenge. We will see this same attitude many times in the Sira (biography). Whenever anyone tried to intimidate the Muslims or challenge them, no matter how big the enemy was— even if they had an army of a hundred thousand— the Prophet (peace be upon him) would never back down. He would face them fearlessly and show the courage and strength of the Muslims. He completed the preparations and marched against the Banu Qaynuqa. These Jews had a strong fortress. When they heard that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was coming, they retreated to it. The Banu Qaynuqa had about 700 fighters, with 300 of them wearing armor.
And they decided to defend themselves from inside their fortress. And for about 15 days, they remained there. Unable to come out. And when they realized that they could no longer stand against the Muslims, fear overtook them, and they agreed to surrender. They gave up without a fight. Even though the Prophet (peace be upon him) could have ordered their execution, he spared their lives and gave them three days to leave Medina. And so, the tribe of Banu Qaynuqa was expelled from Medina as punishment for breaking the treaty. While all this was happening in Medina, the situation in Mecca was growing more and more tense.
After the leading figures of Quraish were killed at Badr, Abu Sufyan became their new leader. The Quraish were burning with a fierce desire for revenge. Swearing to avenge the defeat, Abu Sufyan approached Medina with 200 horsemen. He gathered information about the Muslims from some of the Jews there. And in a place called Urayd near Medina, he burned two houses and several palm groves, and martyred two Muslims. But when he heard that 200 Muslims were marching towards him, he quickly escaped. With this act, Abu Sufyan thought he had taken his revenge. But of course, the Quraish would not stop there. Those who had lost their loved ones at Badr were still burning with anger.
Finally, the moment they had been waiting for came. Their trade caravan returned. They collected the profits in one place and asked the neighboring tribes for help. And then, they began to plan their attack with great care. Driven by their thirst for vengeance, the Quraish gathered an army of 3,000. A fierce battle was on the horizon. What would happen this time? Who would win? The Battle of Uhud, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) called "one of the two hardest days of my life," is waiting for us in the next episode. Stay tuned.
That's why the Prophet (upon him be prayer and peace) was begging Allah, praying to Him with these words: "O Allah, if You destroy this small group of believers, there will be no one left on this Earth to worship You." So, what would happen on that battlefield? And even before that, how did events come to this point? Let's take a step back. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources. All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. While establishing the new state in Medina, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had also set up an intelligence system.
He wanted to know in advance of any possible threats to the city and to gather information about the nearby areas. In the second year after the Hijra (migration), a report came through this network. The Quraish had sent out a huge trade caravan led by Abu Sufyan. Of course, this caravan was not made up of their own goods alone. Remember the time of Hijra (migration). The Muslims were forced to migrate under very harsh conditions. They had to leave all their possessions behind in Mecca when they set out. Then those goods were seized by the Quraish and added to that caravan to be sold. The believers' hard-earned possessions were now about to become weapons in the hands of their enemies.
Even during the Hijra (migration), the Messenger of Mercy and Justice (peace be upon him) thought of the belongings of the idolaters and appointed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to return them to their owners. But the Quraish showed no such sense of morality and seized the possessions of the Muhajirun (migrants). The time had come to show the Mushrikun (polytheists), who had driven the Muslims out of their homes and treated them with all kinds of cruelty, who truly held the power. They needed to see that they could no longer do whatever they wanted, and they had to be shown something that would strike fear into them.
They were not going to stop unless they saw real physical strength standing against them. So, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent a scout to follow the caravan. Then he said to his companions, "Whoever has an animal to ride, let him ride it and come with us." Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) began to make preparations for a possible encounter with the Quraish. The companions were very eager to join this expedition. So much so that there were even fathers and sons who drew lots to decide who would go. Each of them longed for the honor of martyrdom. Soon, an army of companions was gathered, more than 300 in number.
There were also some very young ones among them. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not allow those who were too young to join the army and sent them back. Umayr ibn Abi Waqqas, who was only 16 years old, was also there. Despite his young age, he really wanted to join this expedition. He tried to hide himself, hoping that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not see him and send him back. But when Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) noticed him, he said, "You have to go back too." Umayr was short, and until then, he had never strapped a sword to his waist. His body was small, but his heart was big and full of courage.
Even though Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) initially wanted to send him back, he could not ignore the determination of this young warrior. So he allowed Umayr to join the army. When permission was given, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas tied his brother's sword around his waist. As Umayr walked, his sword dragged along the ground, leaving a line behind him. And that young man would later become one of the martyrs of Badr. At that time, the beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Ruqayyah, was seriously ill. Yet, despite her condition, the Prophet ﷺ did not hold back from setting out on this expedition. But he left his son-in-law, Uthman ibn Affan, in Medina to take care of her.
When the preparations were complete, an army of 313 men was assembled. Under the scorching sun, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah ﷺ) set out for Badr with his companions. Because there were several water wells there, caravans would often pass through this area. The army had very few riding animals. Only two horses and 70 camels. The Prophet (peace be upon him), Ali, and Marthad ibn Abi Marthad shared one camel, taking turns to ride it.
When it was the Prophet's turn to walk, the other two said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you ride, and we will walk instead of you." But the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused and said, "You are not stronger than me when it comes to walking, and I need good deeds and the reward from Allah just as much as you do." And so, they continued on their way. At one point along the journey, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) looked at his army. Some of them were walking barefoot with nothing to protect their feet for the battle. He prayed, "O Allah, these soldiers have no animals to carry them, so You carry them.
O Allah, they have nothing to wear, and they are hungry, so You clothe them and feed them." They were living in poverty, but they knew that the true strength came from faith. And that faith, in the most beautiful form, was present in this army. Before they had even reached the plains of Badr, Abu Sufyan learned that the Muslims were marching there as an army. "The Muslims are coming!" From the moment he set out, he feared that the Muslims might intercept them. And now, what he feared came true. He immediately sent one of his men to Quraish to deliver the news and changed their route. He was going to lead the caravan to Mecca by a different path. The man reached Mecca as fast as he could.
Running through the streets, he shouted, "O Quraish! Muhammad and his companions have attacked your caravan! All your goods will be lost! Hurry! Go and help Abu Sufyan! Fear spread throughout Mecca because almost every family had wealth invested in that caravan. They quickly prepared and gathered an army of 950 men. With 100 horsemen and 700 camels, the fully equipped army set out for Badr. Leading them was Abu Jahl, one of the fiercest enemies of Islam. Abu Lahab, on the other hand, made his illness an excuse and sent someone else in his place. The Quraish army was marching towards Badr with songs and drums.
After some time, Abu Jahl received a message: "You had set out to protect your caravan and your men. Both are safe now, so you can return." The one who sent this message was Abu Sufyan. He had safely brought the caravan back to Mecca and was now asking them to come back. Most of the army wanted to return, but Abu Jahl, who held a grudge against the Muslims, had no intention of doing so. There was a thousand-strong, fully equipped army under his command. For him, this was an opportunity he could never miss. He was sure that he could wipe out all the Muslims. He said, "We can't go back now. We must go to Badr. We'll stay there for three days, slaughter camels, eat and drink wine.
We'll have the slave women sing to entertain us. The Arabs will gather to watch us. And from then on, they'll always fear us." He managed to convince the army, and they set off once again. When the news reached the Prophet (peace be upon him) that the caravan had arrived in Mecca and that the Quraish were marching to Badr with a large army, he was surprised. He wasn't expecting such a move. So he gathered his companions to discuss what to do.
First, Miqdad ibn al-Aswad from the Muhajirun (migrants) stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah, we will not be like the Children of Israel who said to Moses, 'So you and your Lord go and fight, and we will stay here.' We are ready to fight alongside you to the very end. Do whatever your Lord has commanded you. We will follow you." These words greatly pleased the Prophet (peace be upon him). But he also wanted to hear from the Ansar (helpers). Because at the Pledge of Aqaba, they had promised to protect him inside Medina. But would they offer him the same protection outside it too? Sa'd ibn Mu'adh stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we have believed in you. We have trusted you.
We testify that what you brought to us is the truth. We promised to listen and to obey you with full commitment." Just imagine for a moment that right now, we are also marching to Badr with the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s army. Would we be able to say what they said? I can almost hear you saying, "Yes, of course, we would say the same thing." But saying it is easy, and living up to it is much harder. Because let's look at today. Isn't the mission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ still continuing? Absolutely. But what have we really sacrificed for it so far? Don't we often hide behind all kinds of excuses just to skip even a single prayer?
After hearing the sincere words of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, the worry on the Prophet's ﷺ face disappeared. And he said, "Allah Azza wa Jal (Mighty and Majestic) has promised me one of two things: either the caravan or a clear victory. By Allah, it is as though I can see the exact places where the enemy will fall. Allah's help is with you." The decision to fight was now final. Standing against them was a fully equipped army three times their number. But that could never be an obstacle for the Muslims. Their courage came from the faith in their hearts, and their helper was Allah, Whose power is above all things.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was positioning his troops at Badr, keeping the water wells in front of them. At that moment, Hubab ibn al-Mundhir, who was in his 30s and known for his skill in battle strategy, came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked, "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), is this location for camp commanded by Allah?" Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) replied, "No, I chose this place as a part of the war plan." Hearing this, Hubab made a suggestion: "Forgive me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but I don't think this is the best spot. Let's move and set up camp near the water, close to the place where the Quraish will settle. There's a well there with plenty of fresh water.
First, we can dig a pool and fill it with water, and then close off all the other wells. That way, whenever we get thirsty, we will drink from our pool while they'll be left without water and so end up in a difficult situation." The Prophet (peace be upon him) found this suggestion wise and accepted it. Notice here how much Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) valued consultation. He didn't say, "I am the Prophet, it will be as I say." Once again, he showed that he was a true example in every way. Next came planning the battle. The Prophet (peace be upon him) carefully arranged his army. He lined them up so that the archers stood at the back and those carrying spears stood in front.
Then he said, "Do not leave your lines or break formation. Hold your ground patiently. Do not move. Don't start fighting until I give the order. Don't waste your arrows by shooting them before the enemy gets close. Shoot your arrows when the enemy lowers their shield. When the enemy gets nearer, use your spears and javelins. The sword comes last. Use it only in close combat." The Muslim army was ready to face the Quraish. When night came, everyone fell asleep to rest. Everyone except one man: The Messenger of Allah (upon him be prayer and peace). He spent the whole night praying and pleading to Allah. "O Allah, fulfill Your promise to me.
O Allah, if this small group of Muslims is destroyed, there will be no one left on Earth to worship You." And this heartfelt prayer would be answered in the Quran. In the ninth ayah (verse) of Surah Al-Anfal: "When you were calling your Lord for help, He responded to you: 'I am going to support you with one thousand of the angels, one following the other.'" Yes, Allah would not abandon this handful of believers who were fighting in His cause. He would support them with His unseen armies, with His angels. Finally, the day of battle had arrived. When the Quraish army reached the plains of Badr, they were shaken by what they saw.
"They've taken control of all the wells!" The Muslims had already taken control of the area that held strategic importance. But still, relying on their large numbers, they thought victory would come easily. When the two armies faced each other, there were 313 Muslims against 950 Quraish fighters. Ahadun Ahad (One [God], One [God])! Difference in numbers was striking. The material advantage was with the Quraish. But spiritually, the situation was the complete opposite. On one side, the shouts of Takbir (Allahu Akbar) echoed across the field... Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the Greatest!) ...while on the other, drums and songs filled the air.
On one side stood an army that drew its strength from Allah and stood against oppression, and on the other was an army that fought only to oppress and to spill blood. Then, one of the leaders of Quraish, Utba ibn Rabi'ah, stepped forward with his brother Shayba ibn Rabi'ah and his son Walid. This was a common pre-battle tradition known as Mubaraza (duel). Before the fighting began, one, two, or three warriors would step forward for a duel, and then the real battle would start. Three young men from the Ansar (helpers)— Awf, Mu'awwidh, and Abdullah ibn Rawaha— stepped forward. Utba looked at them and with a mocking tone asked, "Who are you?" "Who are you?!
O Muhammad, send us our equals to fight!" He did not want to fight with anyone else. His hatred was for the clan of Banu Hashim. So Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) called the Muslims of Medina back. But who would the Messenger of Allah ﷺ choose? From the Muhajirun (migrants), he sent forward Ubaydah ibn al-Harith, Hamza, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both). -"Who's coming out?" -"Ubaydah, and Ali." -"Ali?" -"And the third, who is it?" -"Hamza." -"No, Hamza. This is not good." All three of those chosen by the Prophet (peace be upon him) were from his own family. This time, Utba was satisfied with those who stood before him. And the duels began.
Hamza faced Shayba. Ali faced Walid. And Ubaydah began his duel with Utba. After just a few strikes, the opponents of Ali and Hamza lay dead on the ground. But Ubaydah and Utba were still fighting fiercely. According to the tradition of Mubaraza (duel), the one who defeated his opponent could then go and help the others. So Hamza and Ali quickly rushed to help Ubaydah and killed Utba. Then they carried the wounded Ubaydah back to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was bleeding heavily, but he did not care at all. His mind was on something else.
He kept saying, "O Messenger of Allah, am I not a martyr?" "Yes, Ubaydah, you are a martyr." Hearing these words, a look of peace appeared on Ubaydah's face. And soon after, he passed away and attained the rank of martyrdom. He became a Shaheed (martyr). There was still a smile on his face because Shahada (martyrdom), to give their life for the sake of Allah, was not death for them, but a reunion with the Beloved. The Quraish army was in shock. The bravest men they knew, the powerful leader of the Quraish, Utba, his brother Shayba, and his son Walid, now lay dead on the field of Badr.
Trying to lift his army's morale, Abu Jahl shouted, "Don't be shaken by the deaths of Utba, Shayba, and Walid! They rushed forward and died for nothing! I swear today, victory will be ours! Muhammad and his companions are just a small bite for us!" Then he reorganized his troops. When the command was given, both sides charged forward. Battle began with full force. Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) himself was at the front, fighting alongside his companions. He did not say, "I am the Prophet, you go and fight." Instead, he was encouraging them with his words and filling their hearts with courage.
He fought with such bravery that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) later said, "That day, the bravest of all was him. No one was closer to the enemy lines than he was." Hamza, Ali, and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) were cutting down anyone who stood in their path. With their swords, they were slicing through the enemy lines as they moved forward. The companions were fighting with all their strength. That day, among those on the battlefield was Abu al-Bakhtari ibn Hisham. Do we remember this name? Back then, when the Muslims were under boycott in Mecca, five men had come together with a plan.
They stood in different parts of the street, spoke out against the boycott, and gained strong support from the people. Abu al-Bakhtari was one of those five men. So, he was one of the reasons the boycott came to an end. And now, he was on that battlefield too, but not on the side of the Muslims. Before the battle began, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had declared that some individuals were not to be harmed. And Abu al-Bakhtari was one of them. Isn't that an amazing example of gratitude and loyalty? Prophet (peace be upon him) was giving him one more chance to believe. During the battle, Abu al-Bakhtari came face to face with one of the companions, Mujadhdhir ibn Ziyad.
But Mujadhdhir avoided fighting him because he knew the Prophet's ﷺ command. Abu al-Bakhtari could not understand this and asked, "Why won't you fight me?" When Mujadhdhir told him what the Prophet ﷺ had said, Abu al-Bakhtari got angry and shouted, "Even though he said that, I will fight you here today!" He ignored the Prophet's kindness and attacked Mujadhdhir. Mujadhdhir tried to avoid him, but he had no other choice. He fought back. And in the end, Abu al-Bakhtari was killed. The battle was now at its peak. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a handful of dust, threw it towards the enemy army, and prayed, "May their faces be darkened!
O Allah, fill their hearts with fear and make their feet tremble!" That handful of dust reached the eyes of the entire enemy army. They could not see a thing. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (Glorified and Exalted be He) described this very event in the Quran: "And you did not throw when you threw, but it was Allah who threw." After a while, a wind like no other began to blow. Nothing could be seen. And the Quraish were scattered in every direction. Then a second wind came, followed by a third. Allah had fulfilled His promise and sent His angels to help. The Quraish were stunned. Because they had thought they were only facing an army of 300.
But suddenly, in their eyes, the Muslim army appeared far greater and mightier. Abu Jahl, who had said, "They are just a small bite for us" before the battle, was now looking for a place to hide. Everyone was after this enemy of Islam. They were racing each other to kill him. Two young brothers from the Ansar (helpers) came to Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf and asked who Abu Jahl was. Ibn Awf asked, "What will you do with him?" "I heard that he insulted the Prophet. I have made an oath to Allah that if I were to see him, we would not part until one of us is dead." Those brave young men were Mu'adh and Mu'awwidh. At that moment, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf saw Abu Jahl and pointed at him.
"There is your man." They both rushed towards him at once. Abu Jahl did not take them seriously, and he mocked them, saying, "You foolish boys! So eager to die?" But things did not turn out the way he thought. Mu'adh got close and struck his leg. Then Abu Jahl's son Ikrimah jumped in and he hit Mu'adh hard. At that moment, Mu'awwidh struck another blow to Abu Jahl and brought him down. "Had the Pharaoh of this Ummah (community) really died?" They both ran up to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and told him that they had killed Abu Jahl. Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) wanted to be sure. So he ordered the companions to look for Abu Jahl among the dead.
Abdullah ibn Masud was the one who found him. Abu Jahl had not yet died. He was taking his last breaths. Ibn Masud put his foot on his neck and said, "O enemy of Allah! Do you see? Allah has humiliated you." Even as he was dying, Abu Jahl was still arrogant. He replied, "You have stepped on a high place, O son of a shepherd. It's nothing new for a great man to be killed by his own people and tribe. Now tell me, who has the victory today?" Ibn Masud said, "Allah, and His Messenger." With those words, he had already killed him in spirit before he actually killed him. Do you remember Abdullah ibn Masud?
He was the one who once went to the Kaaba and openly recited Surah Ar-Rahman for the first time. But the idolaters immediately attacked him and beat him nearly to death. But now, the tables had turned. He picked up Abu Jahl's sword from the ground and struck the final blow that ended his life. Here, there was another amazing detail. Before the battle began, the Prophet (upon him be prayer and peace) had shown the exact spots where the leaders of Mecca would be killed. And Abu Jahl died in the very place he had described. Another leader, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, also fell exactly where the Prophet ﷺ had pointed. And so did the others.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say, "I swear by the One who sent him with the truth, not one of them fell beyond the place where Allah's Messenger ﷺ had placed his hand." As a miracle from Allah, he had foretold not only who would die, but also where they would die. Once the leaders of Mecca had been killed one after another, the Quraish army broke apart. And the disbelievers ran for their lives without even looking back. In fact, this very scene had been foretold in the Quran years earlier. In the 44th and 45th ayat (verses) of Surah Al-Qamar, Allah says: "Am yaqooloona nahnu jamee'un muntasir.
Sayuhzamul jam'u wa yuwallounad-dubur." Meaning: "Do they say we are a great army and we shall be victorious? Soon, this large group will be defeated, and all of them will turn their backs and flee." Remember the days in Mecca. The Muslims were so few in number compared to the disbelievers. They suffered in every way. Sometimes under a boycott that lasted for three years. Sometimes they were stoned and beaten, and sometimes mocked and humiliated. At a time when the Muslims were still so weak, these ayat (verses) foretold that they would soon achieve victory over the powerful city of Mecca.
It said, "They will turn their backs and run." This prophecy that was revealed in their time of greatest hardship once again proved the truth of the Quran: that it was sent by Allah. And Allah fulfilled His promise and granted them victory. At Towards Eternity, we have worked tirelessly to bring you this AI visualized series. And now, InshaAllah (God willing), we want to produce a new series on the lives of our noble Prophets Alayhi-s-Salam (peace be upon them). Prophets like Musa, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Yunus Alayhi-s-Salam (peace be upon them). So you and your family can watch their stories with Towards Eternity quality production. But making a new series also brings major costs.
AI, professional voiceover, and equipment. And unfortunately, we can no longer cover it on our own. We can only complete this project with your support. Our team has divided the total need into $25 shares, so you can support by sponsoring one or more shares according to your ability, InshaAllah (God willing). If you want to be a part of these good deeds, donate to Towards Eternity and don't miss this golden opportunity. 14 Muslims were martyred on the field of Badr. They were the brave men who had turned their lives into a fortress for Islam and a shield for the Messenger of Allah (upon him be prayer and peace).
And those who survived would forever be honored as Ashabul Badr (Companions of Badr). Because Badr was not an ordinary battle. For the Muslims, it was perhaps the most critical battle in history. Because their numbers were very few. And if they had been defeated here, they would have become even fewer. That would have given the Quraish a perfect chance to destroy the Muslims completely. So what did the enemy's side look like? In the battle, 70 men from the Quraish were killed. And another 70 were taken captive. So, what would be done with them? Two conditions were set. "Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) offers you two options.
You will either pay a ransom to gain your freedom or teach 10 children of Medina how to read and write." Only under these conditions they could be released. This showed how deeply Islam values knowledge and learning. Among the captives was also the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s uncle, Abbas. He had fought on the side of the Quraish. Like the others, he too had to either teach 10 children to read and write or pay a ransom. But he told Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah) "I have no money." Then the Messenger of Allah asked, "O Abbas, what about the gold? The gold you gave to your wife Umm al-Fadl on the day you left Mecca?
When you handed it to her, there was no one there except the two of you. And you said to her, 'I don't know what will happen to me on this journey. If something happens and I do not return, this much gold is for you, this much for Fadl, this much for Abdullah, this much for Ubaydullah, and this much for Qusam.' So where is that gold?" Indeed, it had happened exactly as the Prophet (peace be upon him) described. Abbas was shocked. He asked, "Who told you this?" "By Allah, no one knew about it except me and Ummal-Fadl." The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Allah told me." Before that moment, it wasn't clear whether Abbas had secretly accepted Islam or not. He still had doubts.
But on that day, after witnessing this miracle, he became Muslim. "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah." He returned to Mecca and kept his faith hidden. From there, he would secretly send news to the Prophet ( (peace be upon him) and help the Muslims in his city. Another captive was Suhail ibn Amr. He was a powerful speaker and had spoken harshly against the Muslims in the past. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) knew Suhail very well. He was one of the leading figures of Quraish.
When Umar saw him among the captives, he said, "O Messenger of Allah, allow me to pull out this man's front teeth so that he will never be able to speak against you again." With his powerful words, he used to encourage the Quraish to stand against us. But the Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him) replied with words whose true meaning would only become clear years later: "Leave him, O Umar. It is hoped that one day he will be in a position that will make you pleased." Suhail would later embrace Islam. And on the day the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away, when Mecca was overwhelmed with grief, he would give a speech that would calm their hearts.
While everyone was devastated, as if their whole world had collapsed, Suhail's soothing words would bring peace to the crowd. And it was on that day that Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would finally understand what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had meant. With this victory, the Muslims had become a force that could no longer be taken lightly. While there was joy and celebration in Medina, Mecca was filled with sorrow. The city had lost its most important men on that battlefield. Abu Lahab was already ill and had grown old. The grief of this news was more than he could bear. Consumed by his rage and sorrow, he died within a week.
Out of fear that his illness might be contagious, even his own sons did not approach his body for some time. When the smell became unbearable, they finally dragged it away and buried it somewhere. And so, another fierce enemy of Islam was also gone. Everything was turning in favor of the Muslims. After losing 14 martyrs, the Muslims returned from Badr. The battle had been won with a crushing victory over the Quraish. And so the army was filled with the joy of triumph. But that joy did not last long. "O Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah), your daughter, Ruqayyah... has passed away." When the Messenger of Allah arrived, he received the devastating news. He was deeply shaken.
He couldn't even see his daughter in her final moments. Rasulullah (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) had once said, "The people who are tested the most severely with trials are first the Prophets, and the next best people according to their religious commitment." This was not the first time he had felt the pain of losing a child. Before this, he had already buried his sons Qasim and Abdullah. And then there was his eldest daughter, Zaynab. She had married before Islam. But her husband, Abu al-Aas, had not yet become Muslim. On the day of Badr, Abu al-Aas was also among the captives. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ released him on the condition that he would send Zaynab to Medina.
At that time, she was pregnant. But blinded by their hatred after Badr, the idolaters wanted to harm her. Just as she was about to leave, they viciously frightened her camel, and Zaynab fell onto a rock. She had lost her baby. She arrived in Medina in that state, and her father received her with deep sorrow. Should he grieve for the loss of his grandchild or for the pain of his daughter? The miscarriage Zaynab suffered left lasting effects on her health. And a few years later, she too passed away. Losing even one child is a pain only those who have lived it can truly understand. Yet Rasulullah (peace be upon him) endured it not once, but six times.
And the trials he faced were not limited to losing his loved ones. Allah allowed him to go through these severe trials for a reason. If his life had been free from sorrow or hardship, how could he have been a true example for us? How could he have guided those struggling with life's difficulties and all of humanity? For more than 1400 years, everyone in his Ummah (community) who faced trials has found comfort in his Sira (biography). Each one could see their own pain reflected in his life. And one of the most remarkable qualities of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was that, despite all the hardships he went through, he could still smile.
He would open his heart to his Lord, pour out his worries, and seek refuge in Him. He would see the good in everything and always look at the bright side. He would think with beauty and hope. And that's how he was able to leave his sorrows behind. He could focus on the new blessings that Allah sent his way and find comfort in them. One of those blessings was the marriage of his beloved daughter Fatima. Among all people, she was the one who resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the most. And she was going to marry Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the one the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself had raised and taught since childhood.
The blessed lineage of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would continue through Fatima and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both). With a very simple and modest wedding, free from any show or extravagance, a peaceful and loving home was built. And that home was blessed with two beautiful children, Hasan and Husayn. The Prophet (peace be upon him) showed his grandsons love and compassion unlike any other. Messenger of Allah ﷺ was giving the Khutbah (sermon) when he noticed Hasan and Husayn stumbling right there in front of all of us. He stepped down from the pulpit, picked them up, and then went back up.
While the Rasulullah was in Sajdah (prostration) during Salah (prayer), Hasan climbed onto his back. And he stayed in Sajdah (prostration) longer just so he wouldn't interrupt his play. He would say, "They are my two fragrant flowers from this world." He would kiss them on their heads and necks, breathe in their scent, and hold them close. Such affection, especially for that time, was something extremely rare. Once, a man saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing Hasan and asked, "Do you kiss your children?
I have ten children, and I have never kissed any one of them." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully." He did not just have compassion for his grandsons; he showed it to all children. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, a 12-year-old boy named Anas ibn Malik was brought to help him with daily tasks. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) built such confidence in him, raised him with such care and kindness that Anas grew into an extraordinary man. Through him, Rasulullah ﷺ showed another beautiful example of how to raise a child.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say, "The Prophet never said to me any harsh word. And he never said to me about anything I did, 'Why did you do that?' or about anything I didn't do, 'Why didn't you do that?'" He served the Prophet and stayed under his care for 10 years. Anas then grew into one of the most knowledgeable and respected companions. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) married his daughter Fatima to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who was known and praised for his courage, deep knowledge, and wisdom.
And he married his daughter Umm Kulthum to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), the one he called "my companion in Paradise." Uthman was so modest that even the angels admired his modesty and felt shy before him. He was a highly respected companion and had the unique honor of becoming the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s son-in-law twice. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ married his two beloved flowers to two of the most virtuous men on Earth. But what about the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself? Did he marry again after Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her)? When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, he found a large and growing Muslim community.
And of course, it wasn't made up of men only. There were also many women among the companions. They too wanted to live and learn the religion. But it wasn't appropriate for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to personally and frequently interact with women. Additionally, they couldn't ask him about everything freely. After all, he was a man, and there were things they felt shy to ask. So they needed women they could learn from. And those women would be the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who would act as teachers for the women of the Ummah. They could ask his wives about things they could not ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) and learn from them whenever they wished.
The companions spent their days observing Rasulullah's (Messenger of Allah's) words and behavior. But they could not see how he lived at home, his family life. It was his wives who would share those parts of his life with the people. That is why, while in Mecca, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) lived for about 11 years with only one wife. But after migrating to Medina, he lived with multiple wives. Unfortunately, some enemies of Islam tried to slander him, claiming that he was driven by lust. Ma'zallah (God forbid). Since they could not find any other way to refute his prophethood, they resorted to such accusations. But the way he lived his life completely disproved this claim.
At the age of 25, when he was admired by many people in the tribe, he married a 40-year-old woman, Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). If he had wanted, there was hardly anyone who wouldn't have given him their daughter in marriage. And until the age of 50, he did not marry anyone else. Lust, however, is strongest in a person between the ages of 15 and 40. And during that very period, he lived with a single wife and set a perfect example of chastity and morality. It was only after the age of 50 that he began a life with multiple wives. And the reason for this was clearly religious education. Half of the Ummah (community) were women, and the other half, the men, were raised by women.
So it was extremely important to educate Muslim women. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) needed to have wives with different abilities and qualities. In fact, there was a crucial need, because nearly half of our religion was taught to the people by the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s wives. And among them, the one who played the greatest role was our mother Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her). She was an exceptionally intelligent and capable woman. Whenever the companions faced a religious matter they couldn't solve or understand, they would go to her and ask from behind a curtain.
For example, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, a companion known for his knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, once said: "Us companions, whenever we needed clarification and asked Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), we would find that she had knowledge about it." She dedicated her youth and all her abilities to learning Islam more deeply. In this way, after the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s passing, she remained a source of knowledge for 46 years. Someone people could always turn to with their questions. Actually, this is something critically important for us. Our religion has two main sources.
One is the Quran, and the other is the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s life, his way—in short, his Sunnah (tradition). If you wanted to know something about the Messenger of Allah while he was alive, you could simply ask him. But what about after his passing? You would have to turn to those who knew him best. His closest ones. His wives. The ones who witnessed every moment of his life. And our mother Ayesha was one of the seven companions who narrated the most Hadith. Just think. If all of the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s wives had passed away only a few years after him, wouldn't that have left a huge gap behind?
Another strange thing is that, as we said earlier, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) had multiple wives, some people accuse him of lust. But these people don't look at all of his marriages. He married women who were in their 40s and 50s. Widows living with their children. Through these marriages, he became a father figure to 12 orphan children, taking responsibility for their care. People today hesitate even to marry a widow with only one child. And even if they do, how well they fulfill the role of a father is another question. Yet all 12 of those children looked up to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with admiration.
When he carried such an extraordinary responsibility, could his marriages possibly have anything to do with lust? I will leave that for you to decide. So how was the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s relationship with his wives in all these marriages? Normally, a leader or a ruler has dozens, even hundreds of matters to deal with, right? And he often does not have enough time for many of them. Especially when it comes to his own family, a lot of times he has to make many sacrifices. But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had an incredible sense of time management. Just think about it. There were constant political tensions with Mecca. And he always had to be prepared and cautious about them.
At the same time, within Medina itself, there were many political factors trying to cause trouble. Especially the activities of the hypocrites and the problems caused by the Jews. We will see both of these more clearly in the following episodes. He also had to handle those challenges. And at the same time, he needed to keep an eye on the other Arab tribes and neighboring states as well. And on top of all this, he had to lead the prayer in the Masjid (mosque) five times a day. While also answering the questions of dozens of companions. He had to teach them. In times of war, he would lead the army. Every night he would interrupt his sleep to stand in prayer.
He lived a life of worship that no one from his Ummah (community) has ever surpassed in 1400 years. Believe me, as you go through the pages of the Sira (biography), this list only keeps growing. He had to carry out all of these responsibilities successfully. And he truly did. So with such a busy life, how much time and attention do you think a man could give to his wives? He showed such care and attention to them that even after 1400 years, no one has reached that level. Despite having an endless list of duties, how could he still find time to have a running race with Ayesha from time to time?
When Safiyyah was about to mount her camel, the Messenger of Allah bent down and offered his knee as a step for her. With all the responsibilities he carried, how could he think of such a thoughtful gesture? Once, our mother Ayesha became upset with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and raised her voice. When her father Abu Bakr heard this from outside, he became angry and wanted to hit her. So what did the Prophet (peace be upon him) do? He stopped him, sent him away, and then jokingly said to Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Did you see how I saved you from that man?" He showed a level of patience and kindness that is impossible to find in any other man.
Far from getting angry or raising his hand, he even made a joke. On one side, there are men who never ask their wives' opinions, not even about matters that concern them. On the other side, we see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who would consult his wives and act on their advice even in critical matters. He would tell his wives he loved them. He would praise their good qualities, appreciate them, and make them feel valued. While receiving revelation from Allah, while speaking with Jibril, while the angels stood before him in respect, how could he still show such kindness to all of his wives? The answer is simple. Because he was the best example sent by Allah.
Throughout history, every well-known person has been an example in only two or three of their qualities. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a perfect example in every one of his qualities. In his character, in his manners, everything. And do you know what the most remarkable part is? Even in qualities that are rarely found together at a high level, he was the best example too. What do I mean by that? For instance, if a person is very compassionate, you might notice some weakness in their sense of justice. Or if someone's sense of justice is very strong, you might see a lack of compassion. But he excelled in both qualities at the same time.
If a person is very bold and courageous, you usually don't expect them to stay calm and gentle when they need to be. And if someone is calm and mild-mannered, they usually don't act boldly when the time comes. But again, the Prophet (peace be upon him) surpassed everyone in both of these qualities. Likewise, if someone is always quick to act, you don't expect them to be cautious. And if someone is very cautious, you hardly ever see them taking quick or daring actions. But again, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) was ahead of everyone in both. He was a man of peace, while at the same time showing the strongest hatred for the sake of Allah.
He was extremely careful with spending, but he was also extremely generous. And so on. When Bediuzzaman Said Nursi made this comparison, he described this aspect of the Messenger of Allah as "the miracle of miracles." Now that we have taken a look at the family life and the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let's turn to what happened after Badr. If you remember, one of the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s biggest challenges was avoiding divisions among the people in Medina. Also mentioned that the Jewish tribes would cause much trouble in this regard.
So, to prevent potential conflicts and live together in peace, the Prophet (peace be upon him) prepared a treaty after the Hijra (migration). And they agreed to it. But after Badr, tension began to rise among the Jewish tribes of Medina. The Muslims' victory brought out the jealousy and hatred hidden in their hearts. They began reciting poems that insulted the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Muslims. They were also trying other ways to provoke them. But then, they did something that crossed the line. One day, the wife of a Muslim went into a jewelry shop run by a Jew from the Banu Qaynuqa tribe. She had covered her face out of modesty.
While she was sitting there, some of the Jews started to bother her and tried to uncover her face. When she refused, one of them came from behind and attached one part of her clothes to another with a thorn. When she stood up, her skirt suddenly opened up. And the Jews burst into laughter at this disgusting act. The Muslim woman screamed in shock. Hearing her cry, one of the companions rushed into the shop. Filled with anger, he grabbed the Jew by the neck, and in the fight that broke out, he killed him. Then the other Jews attacked the companion and beat him to death. He was martyred. The news of this incident quickly reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Without delay, Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) gathered the Banu Qaynuqa and spoke to them. He firmly told them to stop causing trouble and their arrogant, disrespectful behavior, and then invited them to Islam. But instead of listening and correcting themselves, they replied with arrogance. "O Muhammad! Don't be deceived by your victory over people who know nothing about war. We are not like them. We are skilled fighters. If you dare to face us, you will see what kind of men we are." After this open challenge, they left. They had broken the treaty of Medina. The Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately gathered his companions and ordered them to prepare for battle.
He was going to respond to their challenge. We will see this same attitude many times in the Sira (biography). Whenever anyone tried to intimidate the Muslims or challenge them, no matter how big the enemy was— even if they had an army of a hundred thousand— the Prophet (peace be upon him) would never back down. He would face them fearlessly and show the courage and strength of the Muslims. He completed the preparations and marched against the Banu Qaynuqa. These Jews had a strong fortress. When they heard that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was coming, they retreated to it. The Banu Qaynuqa had about 700 fighters, with 300 of them wearing armor.
And they decided to defend themselves from inside their fortress. And for about 15 days, they remained there. Unable to come out. And when they realized that they could no longer stand against the Muslims, fear overtook them, and they agreed to surrender. They gave up without a fight. Even though the Prophet (peace be upon him) could have ordered their execution, he spared their lives and gave them three days to leave Medina. And so, the tribe of Banu Qaynuqa was expelled from Medina as punishment for breaking the treaty. While all this was happening in Medina, the situation in Mecca was growing more and more tense.
After the leading figures of Quraish were killed at Badr, Abu Sufyan became their new leader. The Quraish were burning with a fierce desire for revenge. Swearing to avenge the defeat, Abu Sufyan approached Medina with 200 horsemen. He gathered information about the Muslims from some of the Jews there. And in a place called Urayd near Medina, he burned two houses and several palm groves, and martyred two Muslims. But when he heard that 200 Muslims were marching towards him, he quickly escaped. With this act, Abu Sufyan thought he had taken his revenge. But of course, the Quraish would not stop there. Those who had lost their loved ones at Badr were still burning with anger.
Finally, the moment they had been waiting for came. Their trade caravan returned. They collected the profits in one place and asked the neighboring tribes for help. And then, they began to plan their attack with great care. Driven by their thirst for vengeance, the Quraish gathered an army of 3,000. A fierce battle was on the horizon. What would happen this time? Who would win? The Battle of Uhud, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) called "one of the two hardest days of my life," is waiting for us in the next episode. Stay tuned.