1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:09,419 Mawaddah Association presents: 3 00:00:09,419 --> 00:00:16,420 *Occurred in Ramadan*, by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha. 4 00:00:16,420 --> 00:00:21,420 The greatest consultative assembly known in the history of Islam, 5 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:25,219 held in the second year of the Hijrah, 6 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:28,219 during the blessed month of Ramadan. 7 00:00:28,219 --> 00:00:31,219 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) convened 8 00:00:31,219 --> 00:00:36,219 the most critical consultative council known in the history of Muslims. 9 00:00:36,219 --> 00:00:39,219 This grand historical assembly 10 00:00:39,219 --> 00:00:43,219 has a story that time itself will never forget. 11 00:00:43,219 --> 00:00:47,340 In early autumn of the second year of the Hijrah, 12 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:51,340 the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his Companions learned 13 00:00:51,340 --> 00:00:55,340 that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb had set out from Mecca for the Levant 14 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:58,340 with a massive trading caravan. 15 00:00:58,340 --> 00:01:01,340 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) promptly mobilized 16 00:01:01,340 --> 00:01:04,340 two hundred fighters from among his Companions 17 00:01:04,340 --> 00:01:06,340 to intercept the caravan. 18 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:09,340 However, Abu Sufyan managed to escape 19 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:12,340 and continued his journey toward the Levant. 20 00:01:12,340 --> 00:01:16,500 The Muslims remained on high alert for the caravan's return, 21 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:19,500 watching with vigilant hearts and open eyes, 22 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:22,500 until definitive news reached them 23 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,500 regarding Abu Sufyan's return from the Levant 24 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:28,500 at the head of a caravan comprising a thousand camels, 25 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:32,500 heavily laden with the finest and most valuable treasures of the Levant— 26 00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:35,500 goods highly prized and favored by Quraysh. 27 00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:39,500 It was a golden, opportune moment, 28 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:43,500 enabling the Muslims to reclaim the wealth of the Emigrants 29 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:47,500 that the disbelievers of Quraysh had confiscated following the Hijrah, 30 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:50,500 and to recover an equivalent for the fortunes 31 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:54,500 they had left behind in Mecca when they departed their homes, 32 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:58,540 fleeing to Allah and His Messenger for the sake of their religion. 33 00:01:58,540 --> 00:02:01,540 Furthermore, it offered them an opportunity to strike 34 00:02:01,540 --> 00:02:05,540 the camp of polytheism a crushing economic blow, 35 00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:08,539 for the wealth in this caravan was not restricted 36 00:02:08,539 --> 00:02:11,539 to the rich alone, but belonged to the majority 37 00:02:11,539 --> 00:02:15,539 of the people and was by no means a small sum. 38 00:02:15,539 --> 00:02:18,539 Rather, it consisted of a thousand camels laden 39 00:02:18,539 --> 00:02:21,539 with the finest goods Hijaz imported from the Levant. 40 00:02:21,539 --> 00:02:25,539 Accompanying this vast caravan 41 00:02:25,539 --> 00:02:29,539 were only forty men tasked with guarding 42 00:02:29,539 --> 00:02:31,539 and protecting it. 43 00:02:31,539 --> 00:02:35,539 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not issue a general mobilization 44 00:02:35,539 --> 00:02:39,539 to all his Companions, nor did he compel them to set out with him. 45 00:02:39,539 --> 00:02:43,539 Instead, his call to them was more of an encouragement 46 00:02:43,539 --> 00:02:45,539 and an invitation to an advisable deed. 47 00:02:45,539 --> 00:02:48,599 He did no more than say to them: 48 00:02:48,599 --> 00:02:52,599 "Here is the caravan of Quraysh containing their wealth; 49 00:02:52,599 --> 00:02:56,599 set out toward it, and perhaps Allah will grant it to you as spoils." 50 00:02:56,599 --> 00:03:00,599 So among the followers of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 51 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:04,599 those who stayed behind stayed, and those who joined joined, 52 00:03:04,599 --> 00:03:07,599 without any blame cast upon those who remained behind. 53 00:03:07,599 --> 00:03:10,599 Indeed, seizing the caravan of Quraysh 54 00:03:10,599 --> 00:03:13,599 did not require a massive army or a vast gathering. 55 00:03:13,599 --> 00:03:16,759 The Prophet (peace be upon him) set out 56 00:03:16,759 --> 00:03:20,759 with three hundred and seventeen men from among his Companions, 57 00:03:20,759 --> 00:03:24,759 including two hundred and thirty-one from the Ansar 58 00:03:24,759 --> 00:03:28,759 and eighty-six from the Emigrants. 59 00:03:28,759 --> 00:03:32,919 They had with them seventy camels and two horses, 60 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:37,919 with every three or four men taking turns riding a single camel. 61 00:03:37,919 --> 00:03:40,919 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 62 00:03:40,919 --> 00:03:45,919 shared a single camel, taking turns with Marthad ibn Abi Marthad 63 00:03:45,919 --> 00:03:49,919 and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both). 64 00:03:49,919 --> 00:03:53,919 The noble Prophet's two riding companions desired 65 00:03:53,919 --> 00:03:57,919 to yield their turns to him, 66 00:03:57,919 --> 00:04:01,919 saying: "We will walk on your behalf, O Messenger of Allah." 67 00:04:01,919 --> 00:04:05,919 But he (peace be upon him) replied: 68 00:04:05,919 --> 00:04:07,919 "You are no stronger than I am, 69 00:04:08,919 --> 00:04:11,919 nor am I any less in need of the reward than you two." 70 00:04:11,919 --> 00:04:15,919 He insisted that his turn to ride the camel 71 00:04:15,919 --> 00:04:19,019 be equal to either of theirs. 72 00:04:19,019 --> 00:04:23,019 Abu Sufyan learned that Muhammad and his Companions had set out for him, 73 00:04:23,019 --> 00:04:27,019 so he dispatched a messenger to Mecca requesting urgent aid, 74 00:04:27,019 --> 00:04:34,139 calling upon them to rescue the caravan and protect it from falling into the hands of the Muslims. 75 00:04:34,139 --> 00:04:37,139 As soon as Abu Sufyan's messenger reached Mecca, 76 00:04:37,139 --> 00:04:41,139 he halted on his camel at the upper reaches of its valley, 77 00:04:41,139 --> 00:04:44,139 having turned his saddle upside down, torn his shirt, 78 00:04:44,139 --> 00:04:47,139 and begun shouting at the top of his voice: 79 00:04:47,139 --> 00:04:51,139 "O people of Quraysh! The merchandise! The merchandise! 80 00:04:51,139 --> 00:04:54,139 Your wealth with Abu Sufyan 81 00:04:54,139 --> 00:04:57,139 has been intercepted by Muhammad and his Companions! 82 00:04:57,139 --> 00:04:59,139 I do not think you will reach it in time! 83 00:04:59,139 --> 00:05:03,139 Hasten, hasten! Help, help!" 84 00:05:04,399 --> 00:05:08,399 All the tribes of Quraysh mobilized to rescue Abu Sufyan, 85 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:15,399 and the polytheists saw in this a golden opportunity to eliminate Muhammad and his religion. 86 00:05:15,399 --> 00:05:19,399 They prepared to confront the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 87 00:05:19,399 --> 00:05:24,399 with a massive army comprising the chieftains and nobles of Quraysh, 88 00:05:24,399 --> 00:05:27,399 rallying the prominent leaders and warriors of Mecca. 89 00:05:27,399 --> 00:05:30,399 The wealthy contributed generously to its equipment, 90 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:33,399 while the poor reinforced it with men. 91 00:05:33,399 --> 00:05:38,430 Then the great army marched forth, heading toward Badr, 92 00:05:38,430 --> 00:05:41,430 to rescue the caravan from Muhammad's hands, 93 00:05:41,430 --> 00:05:45,430 eradicate Islam, and crush the Muslims. 94 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:49,589 Meanwhile, Abu Sufyan drew extremely close to Badr, 95 00:05:49,589 --> 00:05:53,589 near where the Muslim army was encamped. 96 00:05:53,589 --> 00:05:56,589 As he was inadvertently marching toward his own peril, 97 00:05:56,589 --> 00:05:59,589 he encountered a man named Majdi ibn 'Amr. 98 00:05:59,589 --> 00:06:02,589 He asked him about Muhammad's army, 99 00:06:02,589 --> 00:06:05,589 and Majdi said to Abu Sufyan: 100 00:06:05,589 --> 00:06:09,589 "I have not seen anything suspicious in this land, 101 00:06:09,589 --> 00:06:11,589 except that I saw two men 102 00:06:11,589 --> 00:06:15,589 make their camels kneel beside this hill, 103 00:06:15,589 --> 00:06:17,589 draw some water to drink, 104 00:06:17,589 --> 00:06:20,589 and then ride off down this road." 105 00:06:20,589 --> 00:06:23,689 Abu Sufyan hurried to where the two camels had knelt, 106 00:06:23,689 --> 00:06:26,689 picked up some of their droppings, 107 00:06:26,689 --> 00:06:29,689 and crumbled them in his hands, 108 00:06:29,689 --> 00:06:31,689 finding date stones inside them. 109 00:06:31,689 --> 00:06:36,689 He exclaimed: "By the Lord of the Ka'bah, this is the fodder of Yathrib!" 110 00:06:36,689 --> 00:06:40,689 He became certain that the two men were from the Companions of Muhammad. 111 00:06:40,689 --> 00:06:44,720 At that point, Abu Sufyan rerouted the caravan away 112 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,720 from the path of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 113 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,720 and his Companions, 114 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,720 hastening his pace 115 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,720 until he passed the danger zone 116 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,720 and reached a place far beyond the reach of Muhammad and his Companions. 117 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,720 Abu Sufyan then sent word to Quraysh, 118 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,720 informing them of the caravan's safety, 119 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,720 advising them to turn back whence they came, 120 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,720 and urging them not to fight the Muslims. 121 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,779 However, Abu Jahl—may Allah humiliate him— 122 00:07:14,779 --> 00:07:17,779 refused to accept Abu Sufyan's advice 123 00:07:17,779 --> 00:07:19,779 and insisted on advancing 124 00:07:19,779 --> 00:07:22,819 until he met Muhammad and his Companions. 125 00:07:22,819 --> 00:07:25,819 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) learned 126 00:07:25,819 --> 00:07:28,819 that Abu Sufyan's caravan had escaped, 127 00:07:28,819 --> 00:07:31,819 and news even more grave reached him: 128 00:07:31,819 --> 00:07:35,819 that the Meccan army under Abu Jahl's command 129 00:07:35,819 --> 00:07:38,819 was determined to confront the Muslims, 130 00:07:38,819 --> 00:07:40,819 bent on waging war against them, 131 00:07:40,819 --> 00:07:42,819 and that the caravan's safety 132 00:07:42,819 --> 00:07:44,819 would not deter him from continuing his march 133 00:07:44,819 --> 00:07:47,879 to Badr to strike at the Muslims. 134 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:50,879 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) found himself 135 00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:53,879 compelled to make a decisive choice: 136 00:07:53,879 --> 00:07:57,879 either return to Yathrib with his Companions— 137 00:07:57,879 --> 00:07:59,879 who numbered no more 138 00:07:59,879 --> 00:08:02,879 than slightly over three hundred— 139 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:06,879 leaving the polytheist army to roam through the land, 140 00:08:06,879 --> 00:08:09,879 demonstrating its strength before the nomadic tribes dwelling 141 00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:11,879 between Mecca and Medina; 142 00:08:11,879 --> 00:08:14,879 or confront the massive 143 00:08:14,879 --> 00:08:16,879 polytheist army with his small force. 144 00:08:16,879 --> 00:08:19,879 Yet, making such a monumental decision 145 00:08:19,879 --> 00:08:22,879 required a grand consultative council 146 00:08:22,879 --> 00:08:25,879 involving the army and its leaders. 147 00:08:25,879 --> 00:08:29,879 For the Muslims had only marched out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 148 00:08:29,879 --> 00:08:32,879 to intercept a trade caravan 149 00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:36,879 guarded by no more than forty men; 150 00:08:36,879 --> 00:08:39,879 then the situation suddenly transformed 151 00:08:39,879 --> 00:08:43,879 into a clash with a mighty army driven by stubbornness, 152 00:08:43,879 --> 00:08:45,879 fueled by hatred, 153 00:08:45,879 --> 00:08:47,879 and spurred on by defiance. 154 00:08:47,879 --> 00:08:51,169 Around mid-Ramadan, most likely, 155 00:08:51,169 --> 00:08:54,169 there convened upon the vast sands 156 00:08:54,169 --> 00:08:56,169 on the ridge of the Dhafiran Valley 157 00:08:56,169 --> 00:09:00,169 the greatest consultative assembly known in the history of Islam, 158 00:09:00,169 --> 00:09:05,169 to resolve the weightiest matter faced by the Muslims at the dawn of the call. 159 00:09:05,169 --> 00:09:09,169 The first to speak in this critical assembly 160 00:09:09,169 --> 00:09:12,169 was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), 161 00:09:12,169 --> 00:09:14,169 and he spoke exceptionally well. 162 00:09:14,169 --> 00:09:18,330 He was followed by al-Faruq 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), 163 00:09:18,330 --> 00:09:20,330 who spoke admirably. 164 00:09:20,330 --> 00:09:24,330 Then al-Miqdad ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) followed them, 165 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:27,330 saying: "O Messenger of Allah! 166 00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:29,330 Proceed as Allah has commanded you, 167 00:09:29,330 --> 00:09:31,330 for we are with you. 168 00:09:31,330 --> 00:09:35,330 By Allah, we will not say to you as the Children of Israel said to Moses: 169 00:09:35,330 --> 00:09:38,330 “They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.” (5:24) 170 00:09:38,330 --> 00:09:40,330 ﴿'We are sitting right here,'﴾ 171 00:09:40,330 --> 00:09:42,330 but rather we say to you: 172 00:09:42,330 --> 00:09:45,330 “They said: O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.” (5:24) 173 00:09:45,330 --> 00:09:48,330 'We shall fight alongside you!' " 174 00:09:48,330 --> 00:09:53,330 The noble Messenger (peace be upon him) was delighted by his words, 175 00:09:53,330 --> 00:09:56,330 yet he still wished to hear from others, 176 00:09:56,330 --> 00:10:01,330 as none of those who had spoken were from the Ansar, 177 00:10:01,330 --> 00:10:07,330 and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would not decide this matter without them. 178 00:10:07,330 --> 00:10:11,330 This was because the majority of his army were from the Ansar, 179 00:10:11,330 --> 00:10:16,330 and they were the ones who would bear the brunt of the battle. 180 00:10:16,330 --> 00:10:22,330 Moreover, when they pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) at the second Pledge of 'Aqabah, 181 00:10:22,330 --> 00:10:28,330 they pledged to protect him just as they protected themselves, their children, and their families, 182 00:10:28,330 --> 00:10:32,330 but they had not promised to fight alongside him outside their own lands. 183 00:10:32,330 --> 00:10:39,460 The Ansar realized that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wished to engage the polytheists 184 00:10:39,460 --> 00:10:43,460 and would not make a final decision without their counsel. 185 00:10:43,460 --> 00:10:49,490 Thereupon, their leader Sa'd ibn Mu'adh stood up and announced in resolute and firm words 186 00:10:49,490 --> 00:10:53,490 the determination of the Ansar to fight the battle alongside their Prophet. 187 00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:58,490 Addressing the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he said: 188 00:10:58,490 --> 00:11:02,490 "We have believed in you, O Messenger of Allah, testified to your truth, 189 00:11:02,490 --> 00:11:05,490 and borne witness that what you brought is the absolute truth. 190 00:11:06,490 --> 00:11:11,490 We have given you our pledges and covenants of listening and obedience. 191 00:11:11,490 --> 00:11:14,549 So proceed, O Messenger of Allah, to whatever you intend! 192 00:11:14,549 --> 00:11:16,549 By Him Who sent you with the truth, 193 00:11:16,549 --> 00:11:20,549 if you were to lead us into this sea and plunge into it, we would plunge in with you, 194 00:11:20,549 --> 00:11:23,549 and not a single man among us would stay behind! 195 00:11:23,549 --> 00:11:27,549 We do not dislike that you lead us against our enemy tomorrow; 196 00:11:27,549 --> 00:11:30,549 indeed, O Messenger of Allah, we are steadfast in war, 197 00:11:30,549 --> 00:11:32,549 truthful upon confrontation! 198 00:11:32,549 --> 00:11:36,549 May Allah show you from us that which will delight your eyes, 199 00:11:36,549 --> 00:11:39,549 so lead us forward with the blessing of Allah!" 200 00:11:39,549 --> 00:11:43,809 These resolute words settled the matter, 201 00:11:43,809 --> 00:11:47,809 Joy and delight appeared upon the face of the noble Messenger, 202 00:11:47,809 --> 00:11:49,809 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 203 00:11:49,809 --> 00:11:54,809 and he commanded the Muslim army to advance and confront Allah's enemy and theirs. 204 00:11:54,809 --> 00:11:57,809 He then addressed the Muslims, saying: 205 00:11:57,809 --> 00:11:59,809 "March forth and rejoice, 206 00:11:59,809 --> 00:12:03,809 for Allah Almighty has promised me one of the two parties. 207 00:12:03,809 --> 00:12:07,809 By Allah, it is as though I am already looking at the fallen places of the enemy." 208 00:12:07,809 --> 00:12:11,029 So the army moved toward Badr, 209 00:12:11,029 --> 00:12:14,029 and there the two opposing hosts met: 210 00:12:14,029 --> 00:12:17,029 a host small in number and equipment, 211 00:12:17,029 --> 00:12:20,029 yet immense in its faith and certainty, 212 00:12:20,029 --> 00:12:24,029 and a massive host, abundant in numbers and arms, 213 00:12:24,029 --> 00:12:27,029 yet wretched in its disbelief and rejection of truth. 214 00:12:27,029 --> 00:12:31,190 A fierce, grinding battle raged between the two sides, 215 00:12:31,190 --> 00:12:34,190 in which the believers defended their faith, 216 00:12:34,190 --> 00:12:37,190 while the polytheists fought for their disbelief, 217 00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:41,190 until Allah decreed victory and spoils for His soldiers, 218 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:44,190 and decreed for the soldiers of al-Lat and al-'Uzza 219 00:12:44,190 --> 00:12:47,190 utter disappointment and defeat. 220 00:12:47,190 --> 00:12:50,190 “Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: Our Lord is Allah - For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty -” (22:40) 221 00:12:50,190 --> 00:12:54,190 Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.