(Mohammed had failed in his attempt to take political control of Mecca. He was invited to Yathrib (now called Medina) to be their leader. This journey to Medina is called the Hijrai, and the calendar of Islam starts on this date. Mohammed found the citizens to be less friendly that expected and his leadership did not impress them. The Moslem community would survive the next couple of years by raiding caravans destined for Mecca.)

In July 624 CE, Mohammed received information that his enemy Abu Sofian was leading a caravan of 1000 camels laden with riches from Damascus to Mecca. The route of the caravan would take near Medina and it was had only 30 guards. Mohammed ordered his followers to attack the caravan. About 314 Moslems volunteered for this mission.

Security in this era was non existent. Sofian was only 100 miles away from Damascus when he was informed that Mohammed was planning to attack his caravan. He ordered a rider to ride as fast as he could to Mecca with a message to send fighters to escort him through the danger zone.

When the rider arrived at Mecca, Amru ibn Hasham (1) stood on the roof of the Kaaba and sounded the alarm. In the past two years the Moslem raids on the small caravans had caused financial losses. The loss of this large caravan would be a major financial disaster. Many families and clans lost a love one to the attacks on the previous caravans, and they had to be avenged. A force of 100 horsemen and 700 camel riders would march north to rendezvous with the caravan. Hasham would be the leader of the Meccan forces. He was a veteran desert fighter. Hasham was 70 years old, but would prove to be more hot headed than your average teenager.

Mohammed's forces were now about 25 miles from the springs and wells of Badr where the caravan was expected to stop for water. Scouts visited the area and were told by local Bedouins that a large caravan was expected the next day.

Abu Sofian was about 25 miles north of Badr. He had not received word of reinforcements from Mecca. He scouted ahead. At Bedr, Sofian noted the hoof marks, the type of dung left by the camels, and the dates dropped by the riders. He knew riders from Medina were here and Mohammed's forces are nearby. He rode back to the caravan and redirected it to a trail near the coast. Sofian had the caravan travel for a whole day and night without a stop.

Mohammed's forces marched to Badr. They set up camp to the well closest to the enemy. They refreshed and rested while waiting for the enemy to appear.

South of Badr, Sofian's caravan linked up with Hasham's forces. It was now clear that the caravan was out of danger and would arrive safely in Mecca. At about the same time, scouts reported that the Moslems were only a third of the size of the Meccan force. A council of war was held to decide what to do next. Some Meccans remember the victory conditions and just wanted to escort the caravan to Mecca. Others wanted vengeance and wanted to attack. Hasham would encourage the aggressive ones and would order an attack. Not all would agree to the attack. The clan of Beni Zuhra would desert. Mohammed's mother came from this clan. Other individuals would desert because they did not want to fight fellow clansmen that were in Mohammed's forces.

Mohammed's army waited at the wells of Badr. It was mostly an infantry army. The spearmen and Swordsmen would form the in a line in front of the well preventing the Meccan from drinking any water. The few archers were posted on the flanks to prevent the Meccans from turning the flanks and attacking the rear. In the reserve was the Legion of Angels, commanded by Archangel Gabriel himself. Depending on your source, there were 1000 to 9000 angels in this Legion. Only Mohammed could see the Legion of Angels. Mohammed and Abu Baker were posted on a small rise just behind the Moslem battle line. To the south would be rocky cliffs, to the north were hills, and to the west were sand dunes. The Meccans would advance over the sand dunes from the west.

Before every battle at this time, they would be personal combat between champions of both sides. The lineup as follows:

Meccans	Moslems
Shaiba	Hamza
Otba	Ubaida ibn Hareth
Waleed	Ali

The Meccans lost a kinsmen to the Moslems in previous caravan raids and desired vengeance. Hamza and Ali easily slew their opponents. Otba stabbed Hareth in the leg and he fell down. Hamza and Ali would have to team up to kill him. It was a clean sweep for the Mohammedans.

The Meccans attacked under covering fire of their archers. This attack was foolish and they had many disadvantages. They were thirsty, and exhausted from marching through the sand dunes, the sun was in their eyes and an east wind would blow sand in their eyes. Being in individual combat was also demoralizing. The Meccans would fight mostly mounted on horseback or on camels. This did not give them an advantage. Only a few of the wealthiest Meccans had chainmail armor. Again, this did not give them an advantage.

Hasham was in the thick of the melee. He may have been foolish, but he was brave. He was slashed in the leg and thrown off his horse. Abdullah ibn Masoud was credited with chopping off Hasham's head. According to legend, Hasham was shouting curses at Mohammed while and after his head was cut off. With the loss of their leader, the Meccans would rout.

The view was different from the Moslem side. Mohammed had just come out of a trance. He told Abu Baker that God promised a victory. Mohammed picked up a handful of sand and threw it in the direction of the enemy. This unleashed the Legion of Angels who put fear in the Meccans and caused them to rout.

The Meccans lost 70 warriors, and they were thrown in a common grave. Only 14 Moslems fell. Their names were recorded and buried with honor. There were also about 70 prisoners. Future Caliph Umar wanted to kill the prisoners, but Mohammed decided to ransom them. Their ransom was between 1000 to 4000 dirams apiece. Three prisoners would still be executed. One was named Nadhar. He ridiculed the Koran as a collection of Persian tales and fables. The other was Okba, who once threw a rock at Mohammed while he was preaching. Bilal's (2) former owner was captured alive and was cut to pieces. The Meccan prisoners would spend their time in captivity teaching the Medians how to read and write.

Mohammed decreed that he would take only one fifth of the loot. Usually a leader would take a quarter of the bounty. From this point, the leader would always receive the "Royal Fifth". Armies from other nations and culture would follow this custom.

Mohammed returned to Medina with confidence. The Meccans were impressed by the Moslem's booty. This included 150 camels, to horses and much merchandise and weapons. Mohammed would acquire the sword named Dhul Fakar, The Piercer. He would carry it in battle, and after his death, Ali would carry it. The victory over a larger enemy force was proof that God favors them and their cause is just. Mohammed began to throw his weight around in Medina. When a brawl started between the Moslems and the Jewish tribe of Beni Quanuqa, he besieged them into their area in Medina until they surrendered. Mohammed wanted to kill them, but other chieftains talked him into sending them into exile to Syria.

Mohammed's other political opponents would be dealt with next. Asma bint Marwan was a poetess who was critical of Mohammed from the beginning. She urged the citizens to "Cut off the Gull's hopes". Oral poetry was very popular with the Arabs. Poets such as Asma would be the editorial page of their day. One night she was sleeping with her five children. An assassin moved her youngest child and then drove a sword through her heart and impaled her to her bed. The next day her tribe converted to Islam. Another poet, Abu Afak, who was alleged to be a 100 years old, was killed. Kab, a poet who just returned from Mecca was also killed as soon as he arrived in Medina.

The Battle of Badr must be considered one of the decisive battles in history. If Mohammed had died in this battle, Islam would have disappeared into the mists of History. The Koran was written about events after this battle. That is why the Koran reads more like a diary of a warlord instead of a religious book. Even if Mohammed had survived, his followers would have lost heart and deserted his cause.

In hindsight, it is easy to be critical of the Meccans. What was needed was cool-headed leadership. Hasham failed to provide this. The wisest course would have been to not fight and return with the caravan to Mecca. The Moslems would have returned to Medina empty-handed. Most likely, they would have lost faith in Mohammed's leadership and left him. The lesson here is that you should always remember your victory conditions.

Most likely, the small size of the Moslem force inspired the Meccans to attack. Then they attacked in the clumsiest manner possible. Hasham again failed to realize the disadvantages his force would face and call off the attack. The lesson here is plan your attacks carefully or do not attack at all.

At Mecca, Abu Sofian learned that his son died in battle. He vowed to the 360 idols in the kaaba, that he would not make love to his wives until Mohammed was dead. There would be another battle.

Notes:

1) In most history books, his name is Abu Jahl. This is a Moslem nickname that means "Father of Folly". I have chosen to use his real name.

2) Bilal was an early covert to Islam. He was a slave and his master tried to kill him when he refused to recant his faith. The Moslems bought his freedom. He had a distinctive voice, and it was his idea that the Moslems should be called to prayer. He was the first Muezzin.

Sources:

Fredgosi, Paul, Jihad, Prometheus Books, 1998
Glubb, John Bagot, The Great Arab Conquest, J.B.G. Ltd, 1963
Irving, Washington, Life of Mohammad, Ipswich Press, 1849