Transliteration:( Qad kaana lakum Aayatun fee fi'atainil taqataa fi'atun tuqaatilu fee sabeelil laahi wa ukhraa kaafiratuny yarawnahum mislaihim ra' yal 'ayn; wallaahu yu'ayyidu bi nasrihee mai yashaaa'; innaa fee zaalika la 'ibratal li ulil absaar )
22. The Battle of Badr was fought on FridayRamadaan 2 A.H. The Makkan army for battle was made up of a well-equipped thousand soldiers, while the Muslims were only three hundred and thirteen in number, but were hopelessly ill-equipped, having just two horses. six chain armours, eight swords and seventeen camels. Inspite of this, the Muslims gained a total victory and the Makkans were completely routed. Thus, this victory is one of the major tokens of His many tokens and signs.
23. Inspite of the Makkans being nine hundred and fifty in number under the leadership of Utbah bin Rabiah, having one hundred horses, seven hundred camels and a huge quantity ofarms and ammunition, they felt that the Muslims were twice their strength.
24. This verse points to the miracle of the Companions of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآلهfor appearing twice as much to the Makkans.
25. From this we learn that piety and remembrance of Allah Almighty formed the greatest weapons in any battle. Says Allah Almighty: "When you encounter any army, then stand firm, and remember Allah Almighty much" (S8:V45). Furthermore, we also learn that victory and success is not dependent on numerical superiority or military strength. These come from the grace of Allah Almighty.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 13 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 12 which provides the complete commentary from verse 12 through 13.
(3:13) You have already come across an instructive sign in the two hosts that encountered each other in battle (at Badr): one host fighting in the way of Allah, and the other that of unbelievers. They saw with their own eyes that one host was twice the number of the other.[9] But (the result of the battle has proved that) Allah succours with His victory whomsoever He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see.[10]
9. The actual disparity between the two armies was roughly three to one, but even a cursory glance was enough to tell the casual observer that the army of unbelievers was about twice as large as that of the believers.
10. The events and results of the Battle of Badr are briefly reviewed so as to bring home certain lessons to the Muslims. There are three important lessons to be learnt. First, the manner in which the believers and the unbelievers advanced to the battlefield clearly demonstrated the difference in the moral fibre of the two armies. In the army of the unbelievers, the soldiers held drinking parties and were entertained by the songs and dances of slave girls. The prevalent mood of that army was one of self-indulgence. On the other hand, piety, fear of God and moral restraint of the highest order characterized the Muslim army. The soldiers were busy in devotion and remembrance of God, to Whom they addressed all their prayers and supplication. It was obvious to anyone which army was fighting in God’s cause. Second, the believers won a resounding victory against an army of unbelievers superior to them in numbers, and in the quality and the quantity of arms. So the victory clearly indicated which of the two armies enjoyed the support of God. Third, the outcome of the battle came as a shocking humiliation for those who, heedless of God’s might, had been exulting in the strength of their arms and the number of their supporters. It came as a shock to such people when God subjected a tribe like the Quraysh, foremost in influence and power throughout Arabia, to an ignominious defeat at the hands of a few ill-equipped Makkan fugitives and peasants from Madina.
[118]- The believers saw the disbelievers to be double their own number preceding the battle of Badr, while, in fact, they were three times their number.
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