Stories from Early Islam — Page 93
The Undecided Battle To wipe out the shame and disgrace suffered at the defeat of ‘Badr’, the Quraish announced that they would attack Madinah again. They made preparations on a large scale and after one year attacked with a much larger and stronger force. Their army consisted of three thousand fighters, seven hundred of whom were in armour, and two hundred mounted on horses. When the news of the approach of this force reached the Holy Prophet, he called his followers and held a council. With one thousand men at his command, the Holy Prophet came out to defend the city. At a short distance from Madinah, they camped for the night. In the morning when the Holy Prophet was making his rounds, he disco vered that a certain number