If one were to look at the events that took place within the history of the religion of Islam chronologically, ever since it was revealed to Prophet Muhammed PBUH, one would notice that Islam simply wouldn’t be the way it is with the absence of a single event. The conditions Islam was revealed in were immensely severe and the task the Prophet PBUH as well as his few companions had to partake was simply perilous. While the supporters were limited and very few, the enemies were many and swore to end the new the religion that acted as a major threat towards them and their tribes. One of the first battles in the religion of Islam did not only come as a way for Allah SWT to reveal his endless mercy, but also came as a trial to test the Prophet’s Companions and the amount of faith and love they had towards their religion. This battle was called the Battle of Badr, and it took place in Medina.  

At the beginning of the holy month of Ramadhan, a report had reached the Prophet PBUH that a large trading caravan that supposedly belonged to the tribe of Quraysh, was returning to Mecca from Syria under the leadership of Abu Sufyan bin Harb accompanied by fifty armed guards. After sending some of his companions to learn further about this sudden caravan, Prophet Muhammed PBUH discovered that this loaded caravan was a major threat to the Muslims in Medina. This caravan once belonged to those living in Mecca, where each individual had a specific share, and Quraysh had decided to put all their savings into it and use the profits on arms, horses and other items of war to use against the Muslims. Being the leader of the Muslims and caring for their sake and lives, Prophet Muhammed PBUH decided to intercept and stop this caravan as he left Medina, leaving a man named “Abu Lababa” in charge, and left the city with an army of 313 men, while already knowing the enemies army would be in the thousands. The destination they headed towards was Badr, a village in the south-west of Medina where they expected to make contact with the Makkan caravan; however things did not go as planned. Instead of intervening with the path of the threatening caravan, they came face to face with the army of Quraysh, which was mainly because of the spies Abu Sufyan had. When the spies informed him that the Muslims plan was to take control of the caravan, he he abandoned the customary caravan route, and led the caravan westward to the Red Sea coast, and then turned south toward Makkah, to lead the Muslims away from him.

Abu Sufyan then sent a messenger to Makkah asking for assistance in fighting against the Muslims. In Makkah, a man by the name Abu Jahl was already busy whipping up public fury against the Muslims, therefore when he heard that Abu Sufyan needed help to battle against the Muslims, he sent an army of 1000 warriors.

When the Muslims were faced with such an immense amount of enemies, and noticing that the caravan was now nowhere in sight, they realized that they either sacrifice their lives for the Prophet PBUH and the religion of Islam, or they simply abandon the Prophet. However although the simple army of Prophet Muhammed PBUH were extremely simple in terms of the types of war equipment and weapons they owned, as they only had two horses and 70 camels. Some of the warriors had swords but no shields and others had shields but no swords, therefore the Prophet PBUH called them in for a gathering to make them well aware of what was to come, and left them the decision to either remain or leave peacefully. 

The first to speak about this matter was a name who went by the name Muqdad, as he represented the Muhajireen, and eloquently told the Prophet PBUH, “: “O Messenger of God, do what God has commanded you to do. We are with you, now and at all times; and we shall not tell you what the Israelites told Moses: ‘You and your Lord should go and fight against the enemy; as for us, we shall stay here, and sit here.' No, we shall not imitate the Israelites. We shall follow you and obey your orders.”

Prophet Muhammed PBUH was pleased to hear this from his army; however he eagerly waited for what the other part of his army had to say, which were the Ansar. Knowing and believing that the Prophet PBUH was sent by Allah SWT and having unconditional faith in the cause they were fighting for the Ansar too stood by the Prophet PBUH. The man who represented the Ansar, named Saad ibn Muadh, stood before the Prophet PBUH and bravely said, “We have borne witness that you are the Messenger of God. We have given you our pledge to obey you. Wherever you go, we shall go with you. If there is a showdown with the polytheists, we shall be steadfast in our support to you. In war and in peace, we shall be consistently faithful to you.”

The battle then began according to tradition by simply combats before the war fully began, upon seeing the immense amount of enemies, Prophet Muhammad (saw) raised his face to the sky and said: "O Allah! Quraysh are up, with pride and arrogance, to fight against you and to deny Your Prophet! Send the aid which You have promised me and destroy them today!"

After this Three famous warriors of Quraysh came out of their ranks and challenged the Prophet’ army for warriors to come out against them. The enemies were fully armed while the Prophets did not come close to owning what the enemies owned. Hearing this three men from Medina named Awf, Ma'uz and Abdullah Rawahah came forward and asked the Prophet to go out to battle. However seeing that they were from Medina, Abu Suyian’s soldiers refused to fight them, requesting that the soldiers from Mekkah step forward. Prophet Muhammed PBUH ordered Imam Ali AS, and two of his other companions to step forward, and after doing so the battle began.

The result of this battle was that Abu Sufiyan’s  were driven back with great losses, where many chiefs were killed and a large amount of them were held prisoners by the Muslims. This was a promise from Allah SWT as He said in His holy book, “And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained that you may be grateful. (Remember) when you (Muhammad) said to the believers, "Is it not enough for you that your Lord (Allah) should help you with three thousand angels; sent down? Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks (of distinction). Allah made it not but as a message of good news for you and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allah the All-Mighty the All-wise. That He might cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or expose them to infamy so that they retire frustrated. " 

One of the most beautiful things one can extract from this event is the way the Muslims treated the enemies they held prison, as they treated them with extreme compassion and kindness, which contradicted the traditions of the ignorant Arabs at the time. Showing that Islam came with only peace, many enemies realized that they were truly following the wrong path. 

Therefore through the event of the battle of Badr, one realizes that without certain events in the history of Islam, Islam simply wouldn’t be complete. Through this occurrence one realizes that being on the proper path requires patience and sacrifice, and whoever does so receives rewards and assistance from Allah SWT, if not in this world, then in the After world.