The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 167
IV - Battle of Badr, Establishment of the Islāmic Empire and Destruction of the Chieftains of the Quraish 167 “After these chieftains of the Quraish who were killed at Badr, such people have taken up seats in the nation’s leadership, that if the day of Badr had not taken place, these people would never have become chieftains. ” 1 Goodness gracious! How great a devastation overtook this nation! The defeat at Badr made the nation a widow as it were. No doubt, the sons of these chieftains were still present within the Quraish in large numbers, and there were also such people who could be deemed as falling into the second order of society. However, as for those towering leaders who were the moving spirit of the hostile designs against Islām, and who were followed by their people like the following of sheep, despite the inherently free nature of the Arabs, were all mixed to dust. In this respect, it seems as if there was a distinct divine decree in motion, because even Abū Lahab, who did not participate in the battle of Badr, but stood in the front line of the opponents of Islām, could not be saved from destruction. A few days after Badr, he contracted a foul disease in Makkah; and dying a very disgraceful death, he met his associates who had been killed at Badr. 2 Now, only Abū Sufyān remained, who had perhaps been spared due to his destiny to accept Islām at the victory of Makkah. After Badr, it was he who was crowned with the leadership of the Quraish. Discussing the consequences of Badr, Sir William Muir writes: “There was much in the battle of Bedr which Mahomet could plausibly represent as a special interposition of the Deity in his behalf. Not only was a most decisive victory gained over a force three times his own in number, but the slain on the enemy’s side included in a remarkable manner, many of his most influential opponents. In addition to the chief men killed or made prisoners, Abu Lahab, who was not present in the battle, died a few days after the return of the fugitive army - as if the decree marking out the enemies of the Prophet 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 441, Dhikru Ru’yā ‘Ātikata binti ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib / Nuwāḥu Quraishin ‘Alā Qatlāhum, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 440, Dhikru Ru’yā ‘Ātikata binti ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib / Bulūghu Muṣābi Quraishin Ilā Makkah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 41, Thumma Dakhalatis-Sanatuth-Thāniyatu Minal-Hijrah / Dhikru Waq‘ati Badril- Kubrā, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)