Английская Википедия:Battle of Badr
Шаблон:Good article Шаблон:Pp-protect Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox military conflict Шаблон:Campaignbox Campaigns of MuhammadThe Battle of Badr took place in March 624 C.E.,[1]Шаблон:Sfn in the Arabia town of Badr between the Islamic prophet Muhammad-led Muslim army and a relief column of the Meccan Quraysh tribe.Шаблон:Sfn The latter had originally set out to protect their homeward-bound trade caravan that Muhammad was about to raid.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Prior to this, Muhammad had ordered his followers to carry out several raids on Quraysh caravans, which, despite initial failures, finally succeeded in gaining their first plunder at Nakhla, when the Quraysh were observing a holy month forbidding them from shedding blood.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
In addition to many smaller caravans, the Quraysh sent two major caravans each year.Шаблон:Sfn One of these was sent to Syria in the autumn of 623, led by Abu Sufyan and carrying the investments of all the Meccans. Muhammad tried to ambush it on its departure, but failed. On the caravan's return journey, Muhammad planned to raid it again. The caravan reportedly consisted of 1,000 camels and 50,000 dinars worth of goods. At Zarqa, Abu Sufyan got wind of Muhammad's intention and sent a messenger to Mecca for help. A relief column, said to have been 1,000 strong, under Abu Jahl then set out to protect the caravan.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Approaching the watering place of Badr, Abu Sufyan, fearing Muhammad's possible attack, conducted a reconnaissance. When he discovered that two Muslim scouts had just visited the town and left, he hastily diverted the caravan to the coastal road to the west,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn even though it would deprive them of access to fresh water.Шаблон:Sfn Once at a safe distance, he sent another messenger to update the relief column. Upon learning of the caravan's safe escape, the column, already bivouacked about 3 miles from Badr, faced a split. Some, whose close relatives were among the Muslims, chose to return home,Шаблон:Sfn leaving behind an estimated 600–700 men.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn When Muhammad learned of the column's presence from their water carriers, he followed Hubab ibn al-Mundhir's advice and immediately ordered his followers to seal the wells with sand and stones,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn leaving only one for him and the Muslims, thus forcing the remaining Quraysh to fight for water.Шаблон:Sfn[2]
The battle began with duels between champions of both sides and escalated into wild melee.Шаблон:Sfn While the Muslims were fueled by Muhammad's promises of paradise, the Quraysh were not only grappling with thirst, but many were reluctant to kill their kin among the Muslims.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn They had assumed that a mere show of force would be enough to scare off the Muslims, and had not expected such ferocity from them.Шаблон:Sfn Shortly before noon, when they could no longer see their leader Abu Jahl hovering above them after his horse fell, the Quraysh column broke in disarray and turned to flight.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Muslims slashed them as they fled,Шаблон:Sfn and managed to acquire a number of captives for ransom, as well as booty, which, though not as abundant as that brought by the caravan, was still considerable.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Background
Muhammad's rise to prophethood and the beginning of conflicts
Шаблон:See also Muhammad was born in Mecca to the Quraysh clan of Banu Hashim around the year of 570.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn At the age of 40 he claimed to have received his first revelation from God through the angel Gabriel in the cave of Hira.Шаблон:Sfn He then spread his new religion of Islam to his fellow tribesmen. At first, he met no serious resistance from the people of Mecca, who were indifferent to his proletyizing activities, until he began to attack their beliefs, which led to tensions.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn In 620, Muhammad met six men from Banu Khazraj, one of the two Yemeni Arabic tribes that were settled in Medina, the other was Banu Aws. The six individuals had previously raided Jews in their locality, who in turn would warn them that a prophet would be sent to punish them. On hearing Muhammad's religious message, they said to each other, "This is the very prophet of whom the Jews warned us. Don't let them get to him before us!" Upon embracing Islam, they returned to Medina and shared their encounter, hoping to bridge the divide between their people—the Khazraj and the Aws, who had been in conflict for years—through the common leadership of Muhammad.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
In 621 and 622, two secret meetings were held in Aqaba where the Muslim converts from the Khazraj and Aws pledged their allegiance to Muhammad.Шаблон:Sfn The latter pledge included an oath to protect Muhammad as they would defend their own wives and children.Шаблон:Sfn Paradise was Muhammad's promise to them in return.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Shortly thereafter, Muhammad took his Meccan followers to relocate to Medina.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn This migration is termed the Hijrah, which literally means the severing of kinship ties.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Meccan Muslims who undertook the migration were then called the Muhajirun, while the Medinan Muslims were dubbed the Ansar.Шаблон:Sfn
During his early days in Medina, Muhammad expected to gain the approval of the local Jews and endeavored to convert them to his religion.Шаблон:Sfn However, his efforts were unsuccessful and even met with ridicule as the Jews perceived discrepancies between the Quran and their own scriptures. The Quran then charged the Jews with concealing and tampering with parts of their holy texts. The Jewish rejection and criticism pose a threat to his prophetic claims, and therefore the views of Muhammad and the Quran toward them deteriorated.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn This led to the change of the Muslim direction of prayer, the qibla, from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Mecca.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Muhammad's designation of Mecca as the center of Islam, coupled with his need to settle scores with the Meccans after his threats of divine punishment against them never materialized,Шаблон:Sfn as well as the economic hardships he and the Muhajirun faced in Medina,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn culminated in a new divine directive—to fight the polytheists.Шаблон:Sfn Accordingly, Muhammad set out his followers to raid the Quraysh trade caravans.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Some of his Meccan followers were hesitant to partake because it would mean attacking their own tribesmen. This annoyed Muhammad and prompted the revelation of Qur'anic verse 2:216, among others, which asserts that fighting is good and has been made obligatory for them.Шаблон:Sfn After several months of failures, Muhammad achieved his first successful raid, at Nakhla, during a month in which the pagans prohibited themselves from shedding blood.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn When the rich booty was brought to him in Medina,Шаблон:Sfn Muhammad was met with censure from the locals. He contended that his followers had misunderstood his command, and he postponed taking his one-fifth share of the booty until a verse was finally revealed that justified the attack.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Lead-up to the battle
Grand Meccan caravan and Muhammad's attempts to raid it
In the autumn of 623, the Quraysh dispatched a vast trade caravan, led by Abu Sufyan, to Syria.Шаблон:Sfn This was one of the major caravans they usually sent each year, the other in the spring.Шаблон:Sfn The entire Quraysh people had a share in the investment. When Muhammad heard about it from his secret agents in Mecca, he gathered his followers to ambush it on its departure but failed.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
In January 634, the same caravan made its way home.Шаблон:Sfn It was reported to consist of 1,000 camels and goods worth a total of 50,000 dinars.Шаблон:Sfn During its stop at Zerqa, about a hundred miles south of Damascus, Abu Sufyan obtained information that Muhammad had intended to again raid the caravan.Шаблон:Sfn So Abu Sufyan sent a messenger to Mecca for aid. When the messenger arrived in the city, he tore his shirt, cut his camel's nose in despair, and cried, "Oh, Quraysh! The caravan, the caravan! Muhammad and his comrades are lying in wait to seize your wealth which is with Abu Sufyan! You will not be in time to save it! Help! Help!"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn A relief column, said to have been 1,000 strong, under Abu Jahl then set out to protect the caravan.Шаблон:Sfn
Muhammad planned to ambush the caravan at the watering place of Badr. He sent two of his followers ahead to scout the place, and there they overheard a conversation between two local girls, which confirmed that the caravan would soon be making a stop in the town.Шаблон:Sfn Since the people of Badr made a hefty profit by providing services to caravans, it was common for them to obtain advance information about their arrival.Шаблон:Sfn The scouts then reported their findings to Muhammad, and he hastily rallied his followers.Шаблон:Sfn 314 Muslims, consisting of 83 muhajirin and 231 ansar, joined his force. They were so poor that they could muster only 72 camels and 2 horses for transportation, with each of the three or four men taking turns riding a camel.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
As the Muslim army departed, Hubayb ibn Yusuf and Qays ibn Muharrit, two expert swordsmen from Medina, followed Muhammad. They were still pagans then. They wanted a share of the expected plunder, but Muhammad said they had to embrace Islam first. They initially refused, with Hubayb arguing that Muhammad was their sister's son and protege, which was enough for cooperation by pagan standards. But Muhammad did not accept that; he demanded their conversions. Qays gave up and returned, but Hubayb changed his mind and joined Islam later before the fight.Шаблон:Sfn
The caravan changing course
Abu Sufyan, with his caravan approaching Badr from the north, was deeply concerned that Muhammad might make his raid on the town. So he scouted the town, questioned a local, and learned that two camelmen had just visited and left after resting and fetching water. He examined the place where they had been and noticed some camel dung containing a date kernel similar to those from Medina. This confirmed his suspicion. He then rushed to the caravan and changed their route to the coastal road west of Badr,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn even though it would deprive them of access to fresh water.Шаблон:Sfn
On the other hand, the Muslims coming from the east received word as they passed Safra that the Quraysh had left Mecca to meet and safeguard the caravan. There was no news, however, of the caravan's arrival in Badr.Шаблон:Sfn While the Muhajirun reaffirmed their unwavering support for Muhammad, he was concerned about whether the Ansar would still fight in this offensive raid, as opposed to the pledge of Aqaba, where they only vowed to protect him if he was attacked in Medina. To Muhammad's delight, Sa'd ibn Muadh, one of the Ansar's chiefs, assured that they would follow him even if they had to jump into the sea. Pleased with the responses, Muhammad advanced his troops, declaring, "For God has promised us one of the two parties."Шаблон:Sfn
Muhammad changed his target
After the caravan had traveled a safe distance from Badr, Abu Sufyan sent another messenger to the relief column. However, unbeknownest to him, the two parties had already passed each other via different routes. When the messenger finally delivered the message, the column was already within three miles of Badr and had sent some men to fetch water from the well of Badr.Шаблон:Sfn Learning the caravan's safe escape, the column was faced with internal divisions.Шаблон:Sfn Some chose to return home, including:
- A party of Banu Zuhra, a clan to which Muhammad's late mother belonged.
- A group of polytheists from the Banu Hashim clan, led by Talib, the eldest son of Abu Talib, Muhammad's late uncle and caretaker.
- Banu Adi ibn Ka'b clan, the relatives of Umar.Шаблон:Sfn
Leaving behind an estimated 600–700 men who, despite some hesitation, remained at the urging of Abu Jahl.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
When the Quraysh water-carriers was fetching water from the wells of Badr, the Muslims managed to capture two of them. After some beatings, they disclosed the presence of the Meccan troops. Muhammad asked how many Quraysh nobles were accompanying them, and the watermen replied that there were seventeen and listed their names. Excitedly, Muhammad exclaimed to his followers, "Mecca has thrown the pieces of its liver at you!"Шаблон:Sfn
Muhammad promptly led his troops through the mountain pass to the center of the northern plain, securing the nearest wells and calling for a halt. Hubab ibn al-Mundhir, an Ansar military leader, inquired if this arrangement was a divine command or Muhammad's own idea. When Muhammad clarified it was the latter, Hubab suggested moving forward, filling the wells of Badr to the west and south with stones and sand, and constructing a cistern to the east for ample water. Muhammad accepted the plan, instructing his followers to implement it immediately.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn[2] A hut was specially erected for Muhammad, with a number of camels tethered outside for him to escape in case the Muslims were losing.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The sealing of Badr's wells compelled the Quraysh to battle for water.Шаблон:Sfn[2] One of them had attempted to reach the Muslims' water cistern and drink from it, but on his way, he was killed by Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad's uncle.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Abu Jahl and his forces advanced to the hill south of the Badr Plain in the morning and set up camp. When the scout they had sent returned with an assessment of Muhammad's army's strength, the scout expressed concern, stating, "One of them will not be killed until he kills one of you." If the Quraysh lost as many men as their enemies, he questioned, "What is the good of living after that?" This remark sparked dissension among the Meccans. Utba ibn Rabi'a, a Quraysh noble whose son had joined the Muslims, advised his fellow nobles against entering battle. Upon hearing this, Abu Jahl criticized him, claiming his lungs were swollen with fear. Utba countered, asserting that his bravery would be proven on the battlefield. According to an Islamic tradition, Utba, in an attempt to dissuade the Quraysh from fighting their kinsmen, said, "Do you not see them," referring to the Muslims, "squatting on their mounts, holding on tightly, licking their lips like snakes?" Abu Jahl reportedly reacted angrily, stating that if anyone else had said it, he would have bitten them.Шаблон:Sfn
Battle
As the Quraysh marched to meet the Muslims, Muhammad exclaimed: "O God! here are the Quraysh in their vanity and pride, fighting against you and calling your prophet a liar. O God! provide the help you promised me. Crush these people this morning."Шаблон:Sfn A nearby tribe had offered the Quraysh reinforcements the previous night, but they refused.Шаблон:Sfn Utba ibn Rabi'a, accompanied by his brother Shayba and son Walid, went forward and challenged three Muslim warriors to individual combat. Initially, three Ansars answered, but Utba insisted on Meccans of comparable status. Hamza, Ali, and Ubayda then stepped forth. Hamza was Muhammad's uncle, while Ali was Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Hamza and Ali managed to kill Shayba and Walid respectively. Meanwhile, Ubayda and Utba dealt each other near-fatal blows. Ali and Ubayda then finished off Utba and brought their comrade Ubayda to Muhammad. Ubayda asked if he was a martyr, and Muhammad replied in the affirmative, thus allowing him to die happily.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
The battle then reportedly continued with wild melee, though no record of who attacked first. With their positioning, the Muslims forced the Quraysh to face the blistering morning sun to the east.Шаблон:Sfn While Abu Jahl ordered his force not to kill the Muslims but to capture them so that they could be punished,Шаблон:Sfn Muhammad promised his battling followers paradise, as well as the weapons and armors from the enemies each of them killed.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn A Muslim named Awf ibn al-Harith asked Muhammad what made God laugh with glee, and he answered that it was when a Muslim, without mail, charged into the enemy. Upon learning this, Awf removed his mail and plunged into the ranks of the Quraysh until he was killed.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Although Muhammad did not participate in combat and spent much of his time praying in the hut provided for him, he would occasionally go out, motivate his followers, and throw pebbles at his enemies, shouting, "Evil looks on their faces!"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
The Meccans, who were essentially merchants, had apparently assumed that a simple display of force would suffice to frighten off Muhammad's followers. They had not anticipated such ferocity on the part of the Muslims. Many shied away from killing their kin and setting off a new cycle of revenge.Шаблон:Sfn When the Muslims managed to knock down Abu Jahl's horse, the Quraysh column, no longer able to see their leader hovering above them, shuddered and broke in disarray. Overtaken by a combination of thirst, fatigue, and doubt, they turned to flight just before midday.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn It was at this point that the actual killing and maiming started, as the Muslims chased and slashed their blades at the fleeing Quraysh.Шаблон:Sfn Abu Jahl's son, Ikrima, desperately shielded his father, whose leg was severed by Mu'adh ibn Amr's sword. Ikrima managed to slash Mu'adh's shoulder, staggering him and causing him to fall back. With Abu Jahl too injured to move, Ikrima retreated alone, leaving his father behind near a thicket of bushes. Not long after, Abu Jahl received another blow from a passing Muslim, but it was still not enough to kill him.Шаблон:Sfn
Aftermath
Imprisonment of captives and their ransom
As the Quraysh fled in panic, Muhammad's forces began to collect captives.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn He ordered the search for Abu Jahl, his former childhood friend who had become an adversary.Шаблон:Sfn A Muslim named Abdullah ibn Mas'ud discovered him, barely clinging to life from his wounds. Ibn Mas'ud then placed his foot on his neck and inquired, "Are you Abu Jahl?" Upon confirmation, he grasped the dying man's beard and decapitated his head.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Holding it up, he then cast it at Muhammad's feet, who jubilantly exclaimed, "The head of the enemy of God. Praise God, for there is no other but He!"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Muhammad then ordered a large pit to be dug. The deceased Quraysh numbering 50–70, were cast into it, while Muhammad recited over them, "O people of the pit, have you found that what God threatened is true? For I have found that what my lord promised me is true." His companions were surprised and asked if he spoke to the dead. Muhammad assured them that those corpses heard what he said.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
Muhammad's party gained booty that, while not as extensive as Abu Sufyan's caravan, was still considerable: 150 camels, 10 horses, a substantial amount of weaponry and protective gear, assorted possessions of the fleeing individuals, as well as some goods the Meccans brought along in the hopes of conducting business along the way.Шаблон:Sfn The Muslims also acquired a number of captives. One of them was Muhammad's uncle al-Abbas, who, according to some sources, had been Muhammad's secret agent in Mecca.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Umar wanted all the captives killed, but Abu Bakr and others suggested exchanging them for ransom, for besides them being their kinsmen, the revenue from the ransom would strengthen the Muslims.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Muhammad chose that ransom must be requested first, and afterwards, they could execute anyone for whom no one was prepared to pay.Шаблон:Sfn
As Muhammad and his troops made their way back to Medina, they encountered a congregation of Muslims at Rawha, all eager to welcome them back. However, one of the victors, Salama ibn Salama, was heard to grumble: "Why do you congratulate us? By God, we were only up against bald old women; we cut their throats like the camels offered up for sacrifice with their feet tied together." Muhammad smiled and said, "Yes, but nephew, they were the chiefs!"Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Muslims obtained a large amount of ransom money for the captives.Шаблон:Sfn Nevertheless, several Islamic traditions report that later on, Muhammad received a divine revelation stating that Umar's recommendation to kill the captives was actually the right one. Muhammad added that if God's punishment were to descend from the heavens—due to them having released the captives for ransom—only Umar would be spared.Шаблон:Sfn
Legacy
"Badr" has become popular among Muslim armies and paramilitary organizations. "Operation Badr" was used to describe Egypt's offensive in the 1973 Yom Kippur War as well as Pakistan's actions in the 1999 Kargil War. Iranian offensive operations against Iraq in the late 1980s were also named after Badr.[3] During the 2011 Libyan civil war, the rebel leadership stated that they selected the date of the assault on Tripoli to be the 20th of Ramadan, marking the anniversary of the Battle of Badr.[4]
The Battle of Badr was featured in the 1976 film The Message, the 2004 animated movie Muhammad: The Last Prophet, the 2012 TV series Omar and the 2015 animated movie Bilal: A New Breed of Hero.
See also
- Islamic military jurisprudence
- Muslim–Quraysh War
- Military career of Muhammad
- Pre-Islamic Arabia
- List of expeditions of Muhammad
Footnotes
References
Books and articles
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Online references
External links
Шаблон:Wikiquote Шаблон:Commons category Шаблон:Wikisource
Шаблон:Characters and names in the Quran Шаблон:Authority control
- ↑ Шаблон:Citation
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 2,2 Шаблон:Citation, p. 868
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Laub, Karin (21 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels Say They Are Closing In on Tripoli". Associated Press (via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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