Chief of the Prophets — Page 98
Chapter Six 98 for an opportunity, made provocative speeches against the Muslims. The result was that except Abū Lahab (who was afraid because of a terrible dream of his sister, ‘Atika), a grand army of 1,000 strong including all of the brave and experienced fighters was prepared to defeat the Muslims. Before leaving Makkah, the Quraish went to the Ka‘bah and prayed: O God, help the side that is on the side of truth and is more pious and better in Your sight, and humiliate and disgrace the other. 1 The army of Quraish set out with beating drums and singing women who appealed to their honour with great clamour. When the army reached Al-Juḥfah, a place between Makkah and Badr, a messenger of Abū Sufyān informed him that his caravan had reached a safe place and there was no need for the army to move forward. But Abū Jahl and his companions, considering it a golden opportunity, sternly said, “By God, we will definitely go to Badr 2 to celebrate for three days so that our awe may be forever established throughout the land and people begin to fear us. ” This mighty army which included 700 camels and 100 horses, moved forward with great pomp and pride, and on the 9 th day after leaving Makkah, camped on the near side of the valley of Badr. On the other side, the two persons sent by Muḥammad sa to report the whereabouts of the caravan were not back yet, but he found out from some other means that a mighty army of the Quraish was on its way. In order to keep Muslims from being disheartened, Muḥammad sa did not make this information public. Like a wise general, without disclosing the news, he motivated them in such a 1 Tārīkhul-Khamīs. 2 Badr is a valley with a few springs located at a distance of eight or nine days travel from Makkah and four or five days from Madīnah. There used to be an annual fair at this place. The Quraish thought that if they reached Badr, they would be able to awe the entire Arabia with the strength of their army as a lot of people would be gathered at Badr for the fair.