The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 137
IV - Battle of Badr, Establishment of the Islāmic Empire and Destruction of the Chieftains of the Quraish 137 this to be a difficult and delicate situation. ” 1 However, as this was the decision of their Master, they eagerly stood up with heartfelt passion. By this time, although the two Companions who had been sent by the Holy Prophet sa to gather intelligence had not yet returned, but since news of the army of the Quraish had been received, the Holy Prophet sa did not deem it appropriate to wait any longer. Therefore, on Saturday 12 th of Ramaḍān , the Holy Prophet sa set out from Madīnah in the name of God, with a party of the Anṣār and Muhājirīn. 2 Among the most eminent of Companions who were unable to participate in this Ghazwah , the name of Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān bin ‘Affān ra has been mentioned particularly. During those days, since his wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Holy Prophet sa was severely ill, the Holy Prophet sa instructed him to remain in Madīnah, to take care of her. Similarly, Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādah ra , head chieftain of the Khazraj, was also unable to participate, due to his falling ill, exactly during this period. 3 Usaid bin Ḥuḍair ra , chieftain of the Aus tribe, was also unable to participate due to some unforeseen constraint. Due to the reason that Ṭalḥah bin ‘Ubaidullāh ra and Sa‘id bin Zaid ra had not yet returned from their scouting mission, they remained deprived of physically participating in the battle as well. The rest of the eminent Companions mostly rode alongside the Holy Prophet sa in this campaign. After setting out from Madīnah, the Holy Prophet sa ordered the setup of camp after a few miles, and inspected his army. Minors who had come along in their eagerness to ride with the Holy Prophet sa in this campaign, were sent back. ‘Umair ra , the younger brother of Sa‘d bin Abī Waqqāṣ ra was also a minor. When he heard of the instruction that minors were to be sent back, he hid among the ranks. Eventually, however, his turn came and the Holy Prophet sa ordered him to return. Upon this, ‘Umair ra began to weep, and upon witnessing his extraordinary eagerness, the Holy Prophet sa allowed 1 Al-Anfāl (8:6) 2 * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 259, Ghazwatu Badr, Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By ‘Allāmah Shihābuddīn Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 258, Bābu Ghazwati Badril-Kubrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By ‘Allāmah Shihābuddīn Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 270, Bābu Ghazwati Badril-Kubrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)