Further...

Further, an attempt to seize the caravan would force Quraysh to fight an untimely war. When the news reached Mecca Abu Jahl, an influential leader, summoned the people to the Ka'bah and instructed them to get ready for the march. When the Quraysh army left Mecca it consisted of about 1000 soldiers, 700 of whom rode camels and the rest were on horse back. They were fully armed with all the fashionable weapons of the time.

Mean- while Abu Sufyan managed to change his route and thus escape from the Muslims. The crisis should have ended when this new development was conveyed to Abu Jahl, who refused to retreat. Instead, he insisted on making a dis- play of strength to demoralize the Muslims. He marched on until finally he encamped his forces on one side of the valley of Badr, six marches from Medina. Muslims, under the command of the Proph- et, however, formed quite a contrast when compared to their enemies.

To start with they were not more than about 300 men poorly clad and ill equipped. Only a few had armour and the rest just a sword. They possessed two horses and seventy camels each of which had to carry three men. But most serious of all, they were outnumbered by three to one.

Evidently this small band of Muslims was neither prepared nor had the intention to fight an army like that of the Quraysh at that stage; everyone had Abu Sufyan's caravan in mind, and excepting the Prophet, none had taken into consideration the possibility of facing the whole population of armed Quraysh in the battlefield so unexpectedly. It was a big surprise, therefore, for the Muslims, to hear of Abu Jahl's army on their arrival in the valley of Dhahran.

To deal with this new situation, the Prophet returned to his starting point, nearby Medina, where he could consult his companions. A section of the companions stated that they were with him for fighting. After some moments of silence and hesitation, however, there was a unanimous agreement to fight. Muhammad (p.b.u.h.a.h.p.) ordered: "March on and be glad that God has promised me one of two parties". (that is either Abu Sufyan's caravan or victory over Abu Jahl's army).

A day later, however, the Muslims discovered that the caravan was out of reach. The two armies clashed on Friday, 17th Ramadan in the second year of Hijrah. (prob- ably 14th January 624 A.D.) After arranging the Muslims in battle lines the Prophet turned towards the Ka'bah in supplication. He ended his prayers in the following words: "O God!