The twilight hours of Mecca’s darkness were going from bad to worse, shrouding the Prophet PBUH and His companions in acute uncertainty and tribulation. The pagans’ relentless pursuit of His eradication was looking unstoppable, leaving migration to Yathrib, a beacon of hope and the only viable path. As the shadows of Mecca deepened, Yathrib blossomed with the dawn of Islam. The Medinise, receptive to the faith, pledged allegiance to the Prophet PBUH. In the twelfth year of prophethood, a midnight rendezvous with seventy-five pilgrims marked a turning point in the history of Mohammad’s PBUH preaching. The group didn’t only accept Islam, but extended an invitation to the Prophet SAW to make Yathrib their haven. It was not a mere refuge, but a regal offering. They offered Him PBUH their leadership as the mantle of guidance and trust. This pivotal moment crystallized the vision of an Islamic state.
The invitation to Yathrib was a momentous pledge, its gravity not lost on the hosts. It had disastrous ramifications and repercussions in store for them. To welcome the Prophet PBUH was to confront the unsheathing of Quraish’s mighty swords. The move they knew could give them deep bruises. But, the seventy-five brave souls had understood the perils hidden under the path they had trodden upon. Yet, their resolve remained unshaken and steadfast. Under the star-studded skies of Mecca, as they took the oath of allegiance, pledged to withstand any circumstances, Asad Bin Zurarah RA, an Ansar from Yathrib, stood tall, his voice a clarion call and said, ” Lo and behold ! “O the Yathrib’s children, beware ! Embracing the Prophet means unleashing Arabia’s wrath upon our doorstep. Our soil may run red with the blood of our kin, our families may tear tear apart by sword and spear. Can we withstand the possible blitzkrieg from Prophet’s enemy ? If your hearts are fortified, take His hand ; if not, depart – for Allah’s pardon waits tonight, but not forever .” Another delegate named Abbas Bin Ubadah RA endorsed Asad’s views and said, ” Do you know that the fidelity to the prophet PBUH means the destruction of your entire wealth and progeny. If you are still resolved and steadfast to make Him PBUH your leader, then clasp His hand because plethora of promises lie within it for you.”
With unshakeable resolve, the group rose as one, their voices merging in a solemn pledge and said, “We surrender all – our lives, our kin, our all to make the Prophet PBUH our leader, to follow Him to Yathrib, whatever it may cost us.” This paved the way for the historic Second pledge of Aqabah, forever etched as Baiti Aqabah e Saniyah in the Islamic history.
The Quraish watched with unease the rise of Prophet PBUH. His resilience and charisma drawing followers like a magnet, unnerved them. Yathrib’s open arms were a dagger to their hearts, a platform for the growth of Islam, was adding abundantly to their anxiety . The elevation of Prophet Muhammad PBUH was a death knell for Mecca’s ancient ways. Muslim dominance threatened not just their old dogmatic doctrines, but economy as well. The Syria-Yemen trade lifeline through the coastline of the Red sea, vital to Mecca’s prosperity, was now trembling at the edge of Muslim grasp. Meccans knew that the Mohammad PBUH can hit them hard if He succeeds to migrate to Yathrib.
They considered the move quite ominous for themselves, for the trade route was the jugular vein of their economy. They were rattled by the plan of Prophet PBUH. They tried their best to persuade the people of Yathrib not to give refuge to prophet Muhammad PBUH and His companions. But, failed miserably in their designs.
The pagans’ desperation boiled over – assassination of Prophet Muhammad PBUH was their last resort. Young blades from every clan, save Banu Hashim, were chosen for the grisly task. Yet, Allah SWT foiled their plot, and the Prophet PBUH vanished into the night, bound for Medina. Enraged and exasperated, Quraish greezed the palms of Abdullah Bin Abbi to oust the Prophet PBUH from Medina, but the plot didn’t work. That same year, Sa’ad Bin Muaaz RA faced Abu Jah’l’s wrath at the Ka’bah gates when he crossed over the frontiers of Mecca for to perform an Umrah. “You are guilty of giving shelter to an apostate and His companions. You would have met your fate, but you are luckily the guest of Ummayah Bin Khal’f. ” Unfazed and resolute Sa’ad RA shot back, “By Allah, block my path, and I will choke your trade trade routes through Medina.”
The Syria-Yeman trade route through Medina was the lifeline of Meccan trade and commerce. Reckoning its geostrategic significance, the Prophet PBUH used it as the queen of His chessboard. He PBUH navigated the desert alliances, weaving a web of influences to strangle Mecca’s commerce. It was the only way to resist the intimidation of Meccan chiefs and tribesmen . With calculated precision, He PBUH forged pacts and alliances with tribes guarding the Medina-Red Sea corridor. The clans of kinanah, Bani Damrah, and Bani Mudlij stood with Him in the first instance. The highway to Mecca was now within His grasp.
The Prophet PBUH introduced yet another arrow from His quiver. He sent small contingents of Muhajireen along the Red Sea-Yathrib route for patrolling like a flag march of army. It was a silent warning to Meccans that the unit of Muslims in Medina is growing in power. Prophet Muhammad PBUH wanted to apprise His enemies that the tide had turned in His favour. But, contrary Arabian expeditions, no plunder, no bloodshed occured anywhere. He gave a message of restraint, not chaos. Mecca retaliated with renegades and raiders, like Kur’z Bin Jabir’s gang, who struck at Yathrib’s outskirts, stealing cattle.
Meanwhile, during the second year of Hijra, scouts Talha Bin Ubaidullah and Sa’id Bin Zaid brought word of a rich prize to the Prophet and His companions. They told Him about Meccan trade caravan, laden with 50,000 gold dinars, guarded by just 40 men led by Abu Sufiyan, winding through the Red Sea-Yathrib corridor. For Muslims, it was a golden chance to tip the scales, seize the wealth, and shake the very foundations of Arabia’s polytheist order.
Abu Sufiyan’s spies whispered warnings of a Muslim ambush, and panic set in. He dispatched Damdam Bin Am’r to Mecca, bearing grim tidings. The messenger rode his camel to exhaustion, then, in a frenzy, he mutilated the beast, cut off the nose and ears of the camel, tore his clothes, turned the saddle upside down, and bellowed before the Ka’bah: “Quraish, your merchandise is in danger ! Abu Sufiyan’s caravan is being intercepted by Mohammad PBUH and His companions. Their claws are closing in ! I can not say what would have happened to them. Help ! Help ! “
Damdam’s desperate cry rang alarm bells through the entire Mecca. Quraish hastened for battle, vowing to crush the Muslims with iron fist once and for all. A formidable brigade of almost 1300 soldiers took shape. One hundred horsemen, hundreds of camels, six hundred armored warriors, fueled by the fire of revenge, blinded by their own might, swept northward to Badr. Meanwhile yet another message from Abu Sufiyan arrived : “Turn back, the caravan is safe. We have escaped a probable Muslim attack.” Incidentally, Abu Sufiyan had managed to slip past the Muslim ambush.
The Meccan army was ready to retreat, when Abu Sufiyan’s second message arrived. But Abu Jahl’s pride snarled. “March on to Badr ! We will feast, we’ll drink, and crush those insolent Muslims !” The pride and arrogance blinded them. Abu Jah’l reiterated his resolve to punish the upstarts, and etch Quraish’s supremacy across Arabia. Yet, Banu Zahrah said no his belligerence, and broke away, heading back to Mecca. Quraish army was inebriated in hauteur.
The pivot of fate turned. Mohammad PBUH knew this was now-or-never for Him and His companions. Complacency spelled disaster; a single misstep would slam the coffin shut on Islam. Quraish’s victory would mean annihilation, erasing the faith and its followers from existence. His heart sank, weighing the ghastly repercussions – and infant Islam had enough enemies lurking, in and out of Medina.
In the crucible of choice, Mohammad PBUH gathered His companions, unfolded the dual choices. “The riches of caravan is to our north and the army of Quraish is to our south south – choose.” Many eyes turned to the prize, but He the Prophet PBUH had other ideas. His gaze was elsewhere. Then, in a swell of loyalty, Muhajireen and Ansar united, pledging unshakeable faith in His call – backing the Prophet, backing the cause.
A fragile looking band of 300-317 warriors took shape of Muslim army. Eighty six emigrants, sixty one from Aws and one hundred seventy from Khazraj – ill-equipped, underprepared. Just two horses, seventy camels and only sixty armors. Outnumbered, outgunned, yet their eyes burned with a different fire. Had greed driven them, they would have seized the caravan ; but they weren’t in it for wealth. Pleasure of Allah SWT and the glory of Islam was their sole purpose.
Badr’s sands ignited. Two armies locked horns on the 17th Ramadhan – odds stacked high, one Muslim soldier had to fight three pagan soldiers. Emigrants faced a cruel twist: brother against brother, father against son. In the storm, Mohammad PBUH’s plea to Allah SWT: “O Lord, the Quraish have come with all the arrogance and pride to belittle your Rasool PBUH. O Lord ! Descend Thy help that have promised to me. If these valiants are killed here, no one on the face of earth will remember Your name .”
Allah SWT unseen aid turned the tables in favour of Muslims. The tiny band triumphed, etching a new anthem on Badr’s sands. Quraish’s arrogance lay shattered ; the battle belonged to the barefooted Muslims. Seventy Meccan chiefs fell to swords and spears, seventy got captured as prisoners, and rich war booty poured in. Badr’s victory forged a path, Medina became Islam’s citadel, its pulse.
Author is a Teacher and a Columnist from Bandipora writing regularly on culture, climate, education, history, folklore and social issues. He can be reached at mushtaqhurra143@gmail.com
