As-Is The First Eid

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

The festival was first started by Prophet Muhammad SAW in 624CE to celebrate the victory in the battle of Badr. Since then, Eid ul Fitr has become one of the most significant days in Islam. Stories about the origin of Eid ul Fitr suggests that the festivities spread during the migration of Prophet Muhammad SAW to Madinah from Makkah.

The Battle of Badr played a key role in the spread of Islam. The war was a turning point in Islamic history, as the victory of Muslims over the strong force of secular merchants of Quraysh, Makkah established Prophet Muhammad SAW as one of the most influential leaders of the Arabian Peninsula.

The result of the battle also boosted the strength and confidence of the Muslims and proved to the world that Allah is the Supreme Power, and He never lets those down who show great devotion and have faith in Him.

The prestige of the battle in the Islamic consciousness is marked by the fact that it is the only battle mentioned by name in the Quran.

Muslims Were Outnumbered by The Quraishi army

Prophet Muhammad’s army comprised of merely 313 Muslims. On the other hand, the Quraishi army had nearly 1000 well-equipped soldiers to take on the opposition.

Angels in the Battle of Badr

In the Battle of Badr, Muslims fought against three times more warriors from the Quraysh. As the Muslim army advanced towards the enemy, Prophet Muhammad SAW prayed to Allah for their victory.

Allah answered the Prophet Muhammad’s SAW prayers by sending nearly 5,000 angels to support the Muslim army. In another place, it is stated that the angels assisted Prophet Muhammad SAW and his army from the Jabal Malaikah Mountain (it is located adjacent to Katheeb al-Hannan).

“Well, if you are steadfast and mindful of Allah, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand swooping angels if the enemy should suddenly attack you!” (Quran, 3:125)

How Many Companions Died during the War?

In the Battle of Badr, nearly 14 Muslim soldiers were martyred, while the Quraysh army lost 70 prominent warriors, including Umayyad ibn Khalaf and Abu Jahl. Even today, you can find the names of the 14 martyrs in the field of Badr.

Prophet Muhammad SAW treated the prisoners with respect and dignity. Sahih Al-Bukhari narrates: Jabir relates:

“After the Battle of Badr, prisoners of war were brought. Among them was al-`Abbas. He did not have a shirt on, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked for a shirt for him. It turned out that a shirt of `Abdullah b. `Ubayy was the right size, so the Prophet (PBUH) gave it to al-`Abbas to wear and compensated `Abdullah with his own shirt.”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Every civilization commemorates certain historical events and battles that have played a critical role in its history. For Muslims, it was the great Battle of Badr – a historical war in which 313 Muslims from Madinah under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad SAW and with the aid of Allah, defeated the fierce and powerful army of Quraysh of Makkah, led by Abu Sufyan.

The Battle of Badr is significant as it teaches not to undermine the faith and devotion towards Allah. It shows that the power of God is endless, and weapons and a large army become useless if there is no support from Allah.

5 Lessons from Battle of Badr

1. The battle solidified trust of Muslims in Allah once and for all
2. Believers should put their faith in Allah as He has decided the right path for us
3. Muslims should spread brotherhood among the community
4. Not every time the powerful will come out as victorious (without the help of Allah)
5. Determination and passion is a mighty weapon