The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 119
III - Early Battles, Commencement of Fasting, Alteration of the Qiblah and Initial Discussion on the Battle of Badr 119 caravan. This cannot be said for all of them or most of them, but perhaps most. THIRDLY: This desire was not due to their inclination towards the wealth and goods of the caravan; rather, it was because their number was less, as was their equipment of war; and for this reason, the probability of being confronted by difficulty and hardship was also less. FOURTHLY: However, it was the will of Allāh the Exalted from the very beginning, for the Muslims to fight the army of the Quraish. This was so that the leaders of the Quraish, who had become worthy of being destroyed due to their persecution, tyranny and bloody designs, could be annihilated at the hands of such people who were apparently weak, as a divine sign; and so that the prophecy regarding their destruction may be fulfilled. FIFTHLY: For this purpose, the power of Allāh the Exalted was such that despite the inclination of the Muslims to encounter the caravan, the caravan managed to escape, and they were suddenly met by the army of the Quraish. SIXTHLY: This divine power was administered because in terms of worldly means, the Muslims were in such a weak state that if it was left to them to specify a time for battle, a party from among them would have definitely attempted to delay the time of battle; although it was the will of Allāh to have it take place at that time, and for a decision to be made there and then. SEVENTHLY: This divine power remained in effect even until the army of the Quraish and the Muslims encountered one another. Therefore, under this divine power, both armies came before one another in a state where both appeared to each other as being less than their actual number. This was to ensure that the Muslims would not lose heart, that the Quraish came forth courageously, and so that the battle took place. These are the seven points which are conclusively ascertained from the Holy Qur’ān with regards to the issue under discussion. However, with the exception of number one, all of the other points just mentioned, are exactly the same as the historical account, and the same details have been mentioned as have been reported in authentic historical accounts and the Aḥādīth. Hence,