غزوة بدر الكبرى
The Battle of Badr
17 Ramadan, 2 AH (624 CE)
Badr, southwest of Madinah
The first major military engagement in Islam. 313 Muslims faced approximately 1,000 well-armed Qurayshi warriors at the wells of Badr. Despite being outnumbered and under-equipped, the Muslims won a decisive victory. Allah sent angels to fight alongside the believers. Seventy of the Quraysh were killed including Abu Jahl, and seventy were captured as prisoners of war.
Why this matters
Badr is called 'Yawm al-Furqan' (the Day of Criterion) — the day that distinguished truth from falsehood. It was the turning point that established Islam as a political and military force. The Prophet ﷺ consulted his Companions before the battle (shura), treated prisoners humanely (a revolutionary concept), and some were freed in exchange for teaching Muslim children to read. Surah Al-Anfal was revealed regarding this battle.
Quran references
إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّى مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِۦ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Surah Al-Anfal, 9-10
[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another." And Allah made it not but good tidings and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not but from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍۢ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Surah Aal-Imran, 123
And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah; perhaps you will be grateful.
Hadith references
Sahih Muslim, #1763
Narrated by: Umar ibn al-Khattab
Grading: Sahih
“The Prophet ﷺ looked at the disbelievers — they were one thousand — and his companions were three hundred and nineteen. The Prophet ﷺ turned toward the Qiblah, stretched out his hands and began to cry out to his Lord: 'O Allah, accomplish for me what You have promised. O Allah, if this small band of Muslims is destroyed, You will not be worshipped on this earth.'”