Ramadan dawns upon the Ummah. Every year, it happens to be the most significant among months in terms of its contributions, and inspiration for causes of strength and characteristics of longevity of the Ummah.

This is the month that Allah intended to characterise faith, jehad, and proclamation of virtues with – not the least of which are trustworthiness, resistance towards adversity, nurturing willpower, observation of Allah, and many histories and situations serving important turning points in the life of Ummah.

Allah has destined Ramadan to be believers’ retreat. Its shade and blessings is akin to the limited time period of sunlight compared to its role in life upon earth. It provides a situation for Ummah to correct its affairs, rise in stages of collective piety and vigil, and realign and reorient itself.

Ramadan bears the history of revelation of Qur’an, fountainhead of truth. Ramadan carries a legacy of chivalry and heroism, of faith in action and conduct, of inexplicable stances of Badr, Conquest of Makkah, Ain Jalut and similar instances. Ramadan embodies the inexhaustible bounties and mercy of Allah, salvation of mankind, and the joy of Ummah in these. The month is then concluded by Lailat-al-Qadr, which is highly rewarding for the believers. This month catalyses their spiritual ascent with their ritual prayers and serves for forgiveness of sins and making up for their lacunae.

Badr was a particularly sacred day of Ramadan. It was a battle that distinguished between right and wrong. It was a major example that this eternal struggle between right and wrong is not necessarily to deliver victory to the latter – despite its arrogance, weapons and might – but rather that right, with its weak and few people, could prevail. << … froth goes as swelling scum ; while that which benefits people remains in the earth. Thus, Allah propounds examples. >> (Qur’an 13 : 17)

<< Allah gave you victory at Badr while you were humbled. So, exercise vigil for the sake of Allah, that you may remain loyal. >> (Qur’an 2 : 124)

It was not in vain that these battles were eternalised in Qur’an, and Prophetic history, and as lessons to be learnt. Ummah, beset left and right by all kinds of oppression, injustice and usurpation, seems most in need of finding characteristics that shone in the battle of Badr, and take from it what suffices it for rising up with faith.

If Muslims today lack an impact of faith that could twin their actions with consciousness and bequeath spirit of initiation that overcomes difficulties and destruction, they should remember God’s grace on Ummah during this battle and the images of martyrdom, extraordinary actions, and overcoming factors of weakness that could be seen in it.

This battle lasts as the most prominent image of Ummah after Prophet’s migration; rather, it confirmed the constructiveness of that step.

The interplay of faith and resolve at Badr, had reduced the world at that moment, to this place. The victory they secured served for the power and illumination of future generations. Such a significance of Badr is reflected in Holy Prophet SAAWS’ words : << Perhaps Allah saw the people of Badr on the day of Badr and said: “Do whatever you want, for I have forgiven you. >>

It was Prophet’s migration that had brought Ummah to the favourable environment of Madinah, after thirteen years of resistance, perseverance, and extreme endurance in Makkah. Despite their poverty and lack of means, members of this nascent community worked in to bring about such a victory. Characteristics of their formation and their eligibility for such a victory deserves a closer look.

First phenomenon noticeable in these men, after their faith and love for Prophet SAAWS, was that they gave up their desires for Allah – thus changing their initial relatively simpler and more rewarding pursuit of Abu Sufyan’s caravan. Allah wanted them to do otherwise, to which they submitted.

<< … when Allah promises you one of the two factions: ‘It will be for you’, you wish that the one that is unarmed should be yours. Allah wants that He realise Truth, by His command, and to sever remnants of disbelievers >> (Qur’an 8 : 7)

After the battle came the spoils of war, to which Allah revealed :

<< They ask You about spoils of war. Say: “…spoils of war belong to Allah and the Messenger”… >>

This instruction too was received with contentment and calm! As for Ansar of Madinah, they had come beyond their initial agreement that obligated them to protect the Prophet SAAWS within Madinah only. Holy Prophet SAAWS sought their opinions when it became clear that they would have to face Makkan troops, instead of the caravan : “How do you think?” Sa’d ibn Mu’adh RA replied, “… let us go with you. I have never travelled to there and have no knowledge of it. If you were to go until al-Birk (over 300 miles beyond Makkah!), we would go with you. We shall not tell you like the people of Musa AS “Go, you and your Lord, and fight; we are sitting here” but we shall say “Go, you and your Lord, and fight; we are with you as followers”. It may be that you have started out for something and Allah has brought something else to you. So, see what Allah has brought to you and go for it. Do peace and war as you see. Take from our wealth whatever you want.”!

As such material interests, fear resulting from estimating strength of forces, all gave way. Regarding them Allah revealed : << … If you exercise vigil for the sake of Allah, He will assign you distinguishment and will absolve you of your evil deeds and will forgive you … >> (Qur’an 8 : 29)

These characteristics bringing victory are not limited by time and space. These precepts, coupled with benefiting from sciences regarding methods and execution, and divine causality laws (‘sunnatullah’).

Strife between truth and falsehood persists with greater complexities and material strength.

“Abu Jahl”s of the present aim to demolish and eradicate Ummah using methods and plans that benefit from advanced facilities and sciences. This calls for the need for more complex insights of actions at Badr and attitudes of its participants. Particularly worthy of mention in this regard is the deception employed in lexicon and propaganda. This situation is analogous to the what Makkan enemies did – one of their weapons was the propaganda that they were maintaining Masjid al-Haram.

<< It had not been for polytheists to maintain mosques of Allah while they bear witness themselves of disbelief. Those, their actions were fruitless. They are ones who will dwell in fire forever! Only he maintains mosques of Allah who believed in Allah and hereafter, and performed formal prayer and gave zakat and fears none but Allah. Perhaps, those would be among the guided ones. How come have made you feeding pilgrims and maintaining Masjid al-Haram equal in rank as he who believed in Allah and hereafter and fought in the way of Allah? They are not on the same level with Allah. Allah guides not the unjust ones. >> (Qur’an 9 : 17 ~ 19)

Allah is able to establish truth without human agency. Rather, it is a divine favour and gift, that He chooses some of slaves for this mission, placing them between the choice of resistance and military doctrine for His cause or reneging from the same. The participants of Badr, passed a terrible test, fruits of which terrified polytheism and its people throughout the peninsula, and portrayed a bright face of the oppressed, a strong helper in the course of establishing right and a genuine determination that dictates its own terms.

<< … when Allah promises you one of the two factions: ‘It will be for you’, you wish that the one that is unarmed should be yours. Allah wants that He realise Truth, by His command, and to sever remnants of disbelievers ;  that He may realise Truth and render falsehood untrue, even if criminals dislike it>> (Qur’an 8 : 7 ~ 8)

Allah does not leave His oppressed slaves without victory and support. However, causes of victory are realised by sincere believers, and not by hypocrites. This is a divine causality law. Behind human management, lies providence of God. It was part of His providence and management that He had arranged convenience for believers to migrate from  their lands based on their estimation of potential that a favourable environment had to offer.

<< …Just as your Lord brought you out from your house with Truth; a group of believers had disliked it. >> (Qur’an 8 : 5)

What followed was Almighty’s reinforcements to those believers fighting at Badr –

<< …when you called out for help from your Lord and He responded to you: I shall reinforce you with a thousand angels, coming in series. Allah made this as good tidings for you, so that your hearts will be at rest. There is no victory but from Allah alone. Truly, Allah is Almighty, Wise… when sleepiness enwraps you as safety from Him; He sends down water from sky, for you and He purifies you by it and puts away you from the defilement of Satan. He invigorates your hearts and makes your feet firm by it… when your Lord reveals to angels: I am with you, so make those who believed firm. I will cast alarm into hearts of disbelievers. So, strike above their necks and slap them with full hands. That is because they made a breach with Allah and His Messenger. To whomever makes a breach with Allah and His Messenger, then, Allah is Severe in repayment. That is for you, so experience it ; for disbelievers, is punishment of fire. >> (Qur’an 8 : 9 ~ 14)

Allah Almighty, would support and stabilise bearers of the banner of faith so that the outcome will be theirs, and the victory will be by their side. However, this is contingent on steadfastness, efforts, submission, faith, and sincerity .

<< O believers! When you met a faction, then, stand firm and remember Allah frequently so that you may prosper. Obey Allah and His Messenger. Contend not with one another; so that you lose heart and your competence go. Keep up resistance. Allah is with the steadfast. Be not like those who went forth from their abodes recklessly to show off and bar people from the way of Allah. Allah encloses what they do. >> (Qur’an 8 : 45 ~ 47)

<< There had been a sign for you in the two factions who met one another —one faction fights in the way of Allah and the other, as disbelievers, whom they see twice their strength in their eyes. (However,) Allah affirms with His help whom He wills. In this is a lesson for those imbued with insight. >> (Qur’an 3 : 13)

Believers, with awareness and faith, would rise above hypocrites’ speculations and their discouragement ; hypocrites’ hearts are blind to truth. They have no way to sense the means of victory and defeat, in contrast to the insight of believers.

<< …when hypocrites and those with sick hearts say : “Their religion has deluded them” ; rather, whoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah is Almighty, Wise >> (Qur’an 8 : 49)

While it is Allah’s causal rule to affirm believers and give them victory, it is also a rule that if they lose sight of Allah and respond to motives that do not weigh in the balance of Islam, He disciplines them – as what happened in Uhud.

<< Allah was sincere to you in His promise when you blasted the enemy with His permission. Until, you lost heart and you contended with one another about the command and you rebelled after He caused you to see what you longed for in the spoils of war. Among you are some who want the present and among you are some who want hereafter. Again, He turned you away from them that. He tested you and He pardoned you. Allah is Gracious for believers >> (Qur’an 3 : 152)

<< Those of you who turned away on a day two multitudes met one another, only Satan caused them to slip back for some of what they earned. Allah pardoned them ; Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing >> (Qur’an 3 : 155)

Relevance of lessons of battle of Badr are too broad and comprehensive to be limited by time or place. During challenges, believers would turn to review its awareness of banners under which they organise, compare their concepts with those which influenced outcomes at Badr, their behaviour with those of participants of Badr and their following of causality rules that Allah has set for victory. As such believers would visualise those events in spite of over fourteen centuries having passed. After reading verses of Anfal and Aal-Imran and comparing them with various contemporary realities, believers ought to realise their implications, and how it interplayed with the actions of their original addressees.

<< Believers are those whose hearts took notice when Allah was mentioned. When His signs were recounted to them, their belief increased ; they placed trust in their Lord >> (Qur’an 8 : 2)

One of the secrets of this honourable reverence was sincere trust and reliance in Allah – translating to collapse and shaking of hearts of heavily armed and well-fed enemies.

Omair b. Wahab al-Jumahi, sent by the Quraysh to reconnoitre Muslim camp at Badr, reported: “I find in them, calamities bringing death and waters of Yathrib bringing deep death ;  people who have no defence or refuge except their swords. I do not see that a man from them should be killed until he kills a man from you. If they hit you equivalent to their number, then there is no good in living after that.”

O Allah, grant us your victory and support!

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