Badr

1439 years ago, In the second year of Hijrah, on the eve of the 17th of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) had reached Badr with 313 of his Companions. They had left Medinah hurriedly, hoping to ambush the caravan of Quraysh that was passing, only to learn that it had evaded them and a huge army of Quraysh was proceeding. The Muslims had not prepared for a battle and were only meagerly equipped – they had only two horses and seventy camels. The Quraysh on the other hand numbered 1000 men, with 200 horses and 700 camels.

But now they had tired and Allah ta’ala sent down on them a sweet sleep has He says in the Quran;

“When He overwhelmed you with drowsiness as security from Him” (8:11)

Why was it a security? Because someone who is in a war and fears an attack/death, he won’t get sleep easily, its’ stressful. It’s only the person who feels secure and safe that can sleep peacefully. All the Muslims on this night slept so peacefully, so that they would wake up refreshed and rejuvenated. All except one. Our Beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) was awake the entire night in continuous dua, entreating Allah for victory.

And Allah ta’ala answered the plea of His Messenger, saying: in surah Anfaal which is one of the main surahs for the story of Badr

“When you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, ‘Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.”

And Allah did not (do that except) to give you good tidings and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not but from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (8:9-10)

Viictory is not from angels, it is only from Allah.

And indeed the entire time the Muslims had trust in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) had told them Allah promised to give him victory so much so that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) showed the Sahabah the exact places where some of the Quraysh would fall to their death. So they entered the war, greatly outnumbered, but with firm hearts and firm faith in their Lord, and the promise of their Lord; they came not depending on their own strength or skill; but with full faith, trust and submission to Allah and His Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah upon him).

Yet during the entire battle the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) kept pleading, to Allah for victory, crying to Him, with his arms raised, saying” If you destroy this group, you will not be worshipped after today!” S his cloak fell off of him, and Abu Bakr, was so overwhelmed seeing him in that state, he held him from behind his back, and said” that’s enough, o Messenger of Allah, you have indeed pleaded much with your Lord.” This, not because he doubted the victory, but it was a manifestation of what his greatest characteristic: his slavehood to the Almighty and Majestic.

Why did Allah ta’ala promise them victory? When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) asked the Companions whether he should proceed, they said: “Go! Wherever you want to – go! We will go with you; even if you go into this sea, we will go into it with you!”

They professed their utmost compliance and submission with whatever the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) wished and that is how they gave victory to Allah;

And Allah has promised in the Sura Muhammad

“If you give victory to Allah, Alla will give you victory.” (Muhammad:7)

This is a promise for the entire ummah, all of us.

So how do we help/or give victory to Allah? By giving victory to His deen by following His commands and keeping away from what He has prohibited; by giving victory to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) and his sunnah; this is applicable on the individual and collective level.

So this Ramadan, let’s recognize the immense indebtedness that we owe to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) and the Companions for what they did on this historic day; and let us show our gratitude and appreciation by renewing our resolve to give Nasr to the Deen in ourselves and that what we have control over in return, Allah ta’ala promises that He will give us victory as well; and of course the victory from Allah is so much greater; we’ll see the help of Allah in ourselves, our households and our communities, inshaAllah, may Allah give us tawfeeq to give nasr to His deen and be worthy of His nasr.