WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.419 Mawaddah Association presents: 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:16.420 *Occurred in Ramadan*, by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha. 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:21.420 The greatest consultative assembly known in the history of Islam, 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:25.219 held in the second year of the Hijrah, 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:28.219 during the blessed month of Ramadan. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:31.219 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) convened 00:00:31.219 --> 00:00:36.219 the most critical consultative council known in the history of Muslims. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:39.219 This grand historical assembly 00:00:39.219 --> 00:00:43.219 has a story that time itself will never forget. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:47.340 In early autumn of the second year of the Hijrah, 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:51.340 the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his Companions learned 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:55.340 that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb had set out from Mecca for the Levant 00:00:55.340 --> 00:00:58.340 with a massive trading caravan. 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:01.340 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) promptly mobilized 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:04.340 two hundred fighters from among his Companions 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:06.340 to intercept the caravan. 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:09.340 However, Abu Sufyan managed to escape 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:12.340 and continued his journey toward the Levant. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:16.500 The Muslims remained on high alert for the caravan's return, 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:19.500 watching with vigilant hearts and open eyes, 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:22.500 until definitive news reached them 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:25.500 regarding Abu Sufyan's return from the Levant 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:28.500 at the head of a caravan comprising a thousand camels, 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:32.500 heavily laden with the finest and most valuable treasures of the Levant— 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:35.500 goods highly prized and favored by Quraysh. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:39.500 It was a golden, opportune moment, 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:43.500 enabling the Muslims to reclaim the wealth of the Emigrants 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:47.500 that the disbelievers of Quraysh had confiscated following the Hijrah, 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.500 and to recover an equivalent for the fortunes 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:54.500 they had left behind in Mecca when they departed their homes, 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:58.540 fleeing to Allah and His Messenger for the sake of their religion. 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:01.540 Furthermore, it offered them an opportunity to strike 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:05.540 the camp of polytheism a crushing economic blow, 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:08.539 for the wealth in this caravan was not restricted 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:11.539 to the rich alone, but belonged to the majority 00:02:11.539 --> 00:02:15.539 of the people and was by no means a small sum. 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:18.539 Rather, it consisted of a thousand camels laden 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:21.539 with the finest goods Hijaz imported from the Levant. 00:02:21.539 --> 00:02:25.539 Accompanying this vast caravan 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:29.539 were only forty men tasked with guarding 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:31.539 and protecting it. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:35.539 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not issue a general mobilization 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:39.539 to all his Companions, nor did he compel them to set out with him. 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:43.539 Instead, his call to them was more of an encouragement 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:45.539 and an invitation to an advisable deed. 00:02:45.539 --> 00:02:48.599 He did no more than say to them: 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:52.599 "Here is the caravan of Quraysh containing their wealth; 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:56.599 set out toward it, and perhaps Allah will grant it to you as spoils." 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:00.599 So among the followers of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:04.599 those who stayed behind stayed, and those who joined joined, 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:07.599 without any blame cast upon those who remained behind. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.599 Indeed, seizing the caravan of Quraysh 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:13.599 did not require a massive army or a vast gathering. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.759 The Prophet (peace be upon him) set out 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:20.759 with three hundred and seventeen men from among his Companions, 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:24.759 including two hundred and thirty-one from the Ansar 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:28.759 and eighty-six from the Emigrants. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:32.919 They had with them seventy camels and two horses, 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:37.919 with every three or four men taking turns riding a single camel. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:40.919 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:45.919 shared a single camel, taking turns with Marthad ibn Abi Marthad 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:49.919 and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both). 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:53.919 The noble Prophet's two riding companions desired 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.919 to yield their turns to him, 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:01.919 saying: "We will walk on your behalf, O Messenger of Allah." 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.919 But he (peace be upon him) replied: 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.919 "You are no stronger than I am, 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.919 nor am I any less in need of the reward than you two." 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.919 He insisted that his turn to ride the camel 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:19.019 be equal to either of theirs. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:23.019 Abu Sufyan learned that Muhammad and his Companions had set out for him, 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:27.019 so he dispatched a messenger to Mecca requesting urgent aid, 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. 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:37.139 As soon as Abu Sufyan's messenger reached Mecca, 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:41.139 he halted on his camel at the upper reaches of its valley, 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:44.139 having turned his saddle upside down, torn his shirt, 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.139 and begun shouting at the top of his voice: 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:51.139 "O people of Quraysh! The merchandise! The merchandise! 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:54.139 Your wealth with Abu Sufyan 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:57.139 has been intercepted by Muhammad and his Companions! 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:59.139 I do not think you will reach it in time! 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:03.139 Hasten, hasten! Help, help!" 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.399 All the tribes of Quraysh mobilized to rescue Abu Sufyan, 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:15.399 and the polytheists saw in this a golden opportunity to eliminate Muhammad and his religion. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:19.399 They prepared to confront the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:24.399 with a massive army comprising the chieftains and nobles of Quraysh, 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:27.399 rallying the prominent leaders and warriors of Mecca. 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:30.399 The wealthy contributed generously to its equipment, 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:33.399 while the poor reinforced it with men. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:38.430 Then the great army marched forth, heading toward Badr, 00:05:38.430 --> 00:05:41.430 to rescue the caravan from Muhammad's hands, 00:05:41.430 --> 00:05:45.430 eradicate Islam, and crush the Muslims. 00:05:45.430 --> 00:05:49.589 Meanwhile, Abu Sufyan drew extremely close to Badr, 00:05:49.589 --> 00:05:53.589 near where the Muslim army was encamped. 00:05:53.589 --> 00:05:56.589 As he was inadvertently marching toward his own peril, 00:05:56.589 --> 00:05:59.589 he encountered a man named Majdi ibn 'Amr. 00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:02.589 He asked him about Muhammad's army, 00:06:02.589 --> 00:06:05.589 and Majdi said to Abu Sufyan: 00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:09.589 "I have not seen anything suspicious in this land, 00:06:09.589 --> 00:06:11.589 except that I saw two men 00:06:11.589 --> 00:06:15.589 make their camels kneel beside this hill, 00:06:15.589 --> 00:06:17.589 draw some water to drink, 00:06:17.589 --> 00:06:20.589 and then ride off down this road." 00:06:20.589 --> 00:06:23.689 Abu Sufyan hurried to where the two camels had knelt, 00:06:23.689 --> 00:06:26.689 picked up some of their droppings, 00:06:26.689 --> 00:06:29.689 and crumbled them in his hands, 00:06:29.689 --> 00:06:31.689 finding date stones inside them. 00:06:31.689 --> 00:06:36.689 He exclaimed: "By the Lord of the Ka'bah, this is the fodder of Yathrib!" 00:06:36.689 --> 00:06:40.689 He became certain that the two men were from the Companions of Muhammad. 00:06:40.689 --> 00:06:44.720 At that point, Abu Sufyan rerouted the caravan away 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.720 from the path of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:49.720 and his Companions, 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:51.720 hastening his pace 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:54.720 until he passed the danger zone 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:59.720 and reached a place far beyond the reach of Muhammad and his Companions. 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.720 Abu Sufyan then sent word to Quraysh, 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:04.720 informing them of the caravan's safety, 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:07.720 advising them to turn back whence they came, 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.720 and urging them not to fight the Muslims. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.779 However, Abu Jahl—may Allah humiliate him— 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:17.779 refused to accept Abu Sufyan's advice 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:19.779 and insisted on advancing 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:22.819 until he met Muhammad and his Companions. 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:25.819 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) learned 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:28.819 that Abu Sufyan's caravan had escaped, 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:31.819 and news even more grave reached him: 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:35.819 that the Meccan army under Abu Jahl's command 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:38.819 was determined to confront the Muslims, 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:40.819 bent on waging war against them, 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:42.819 and that the caravan's safety 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:44.819 would not deter him from continuing his march 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:47.879 to Badr to strike at the Muslims. 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:50.879 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) found himself 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.879 compelled to make a decisive choice: 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:57.879 either return to Yathrib with his Companions— 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.879 who numbered no more 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:02.879 than slightly over three hundred— 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:06.879 leaving the polytheist army to roam through the land, 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:09.879 demonstrating its strength before the nomadic tribes dwelling 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.879 between Mecca and Medina; 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.879 or confront the massive 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:16.879 polytheist army with his small force. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.879 Yet, making such a monumental decision 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:22.879 required a grand consultative council 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:25.879 involving the army and its leaders. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:29.879 For the Muslims had only marched out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:32.879 to intercept a trade caravan 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:36.879 guarded by no more than forty men; 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.879 then the situation suddenly transformed 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.879 into a clash with a mighty army driven by stubbornness, 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:45.879 fueled by hatred, 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:47.879 and spurred on by defiance. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:51.169 Around mid-Ramadan, most likely, 00:08:51.169 --> 00:08:54.169 there convened upon the vast sands 00:08:54.169 --> 00:08:56.169 on the ridge of the Dhafiran Valley 00:08:56.169 --> 00:09:00.169 the greatest consultative assembly known in the history of Islam, 00:09:00.169 --> 00:09:05.169 to resolve the weightiest matter faced by the Muslims at the dawn of the call. 00:09:05.169 --> 00:09:09.169 The first to speak in this critical assembly 00:09:09.169 --> 00:09:12.169 was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:09:12.169 --> 00:09:14.169 and he spoke exceptionally well. 00:09:14.169 --> 00:09:18.330 He was followed by al-Faruq 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:09:18.330 --> 00:09:20.330 who spoke admirably. 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:24.330 Then al-Miqdad ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) followed them, 00:09:24.330 --> 00:09:27.330 saying: "O Messenger of Allah! 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:29.330 Proceed as Allah has commanded you, 00:09:29.330 --> 00:09:31.330 for we are with you. 00:09:31.330 --> 00:09:35.330 By Allah, we will not say to you as the Children of Israel said to Moses: 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) 00:09:38.330 --> 00:09:40.330 ﴿'We are sitting right here,'﴾ 00:09:40.330 --> 00:09:42.330 but rather we say to you: 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) 00:09:45.330 --> 00:09:48.330 'We shall fight alongside you!' " 00:09:48.330 --> 00:09:53.330 The noble Messenger (peace be upon him) was delighted by his words, 00:09:53.330 --> 00:09:56.330 yet he still wished to hear from others, 00:09:56.330 --> 00:10:01.330 as none of those who had spoken were from the Ansar, 00:10:01.330 --> 00:10:07.330 and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would not decide this matter without them. 00:10:07.330 --> 00:10:11.330 This was because the majority of his army were from the Ansar, 00:10:11.330 --> 00:10:16.330 and they were the ones who would bear the brunt of the battle. 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, 00:10:22.330 --> 00:10:28.330 they pledged to protect him just as they protected themselves, their children, and their families, 00:10:28.330 --> 00:10:32.330 but they had not promised to fight alongside him outside their own lands. 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 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:43.460 and would not make a final decision without their counsel. 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 00:10:49.490 --> 00:10:53.490 the determination of the Ansar to fight the battle alongside their Prophet. 00:10:53.490 --> 00:10:58.490 Addressing the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he said: 00:10:58.490 --> 00:11:02.490 "We have believed in you, O Messenger of Allah, testified to your truth, 00:11:02.490 --> 00:11:05.490 and borne witness that what you brought is the absolute truth. 00:11:06.490 --> 00:11:11.490 We have given you our pledges and covenants of listening and obedience. 00:11:11.490 --> 00:11:14.549 So proceed, O Messenger of Allah, to whatever you intend! 00:11:14.549 --> 00:11:16.549 By Him Who sent you with the truth, 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, 00:11:20.549 --> 00:11:23.549 and not a single man among us would stay behind! 00:11:23.549 --> 00:11:27.549 We do not dislike that you lead us against our enemy tomorrow; 00:11:27.549 --> 00:11:30.549 indeed, O Messenger of Allah, we are steadfast in war, 00:11:30.549 --> 00:11:32.549 truthful upon confrontation! 00:11:32.549 --> 00:11:36.549 May Allah show you from us that which will delight your eyes, 00:11:36.549 --> 00:11:39.549 so lead us forward with the blessing of Allah!" 00:11:39.549 --> 00:11:43.809 These resolute words settled the matter, 00:11:43.809 --> 00:11:47.809 Joy and delight appeared upon the face of the noble Messenger, 00:11:47.809 --> 00:11:49.809 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:11:49.809 --> 00:11:54.809 and he commanded the Muslim army to advance and confront Allah's enemy and theirs. 00:11:54.809 --> 00:11:57.809 He then addressed the Muslims, saying: 00:11:57.809 --> 00:11:59.809 "March forth and rejoice, 00:11:59.809 --> 00:12:03.809 for Allah Almighty has promised me one of the two parties. 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." 00:12:07.809 --> 00:12:11.029 So the army moved toward Badr, 00:12:11.029 --> 00:12:14.029 and there the two opposing hosts met: 00:12:14.029 --> 00:12:17.029 a host small in number and equipment, 00:12:17.029 --> 00:12:20.029 yet immense in its faith and certainty, 00:12:20.029 --> 00:12:24.029 and a massive host, abundant in numbers and arms, 00:12:24.029 --> 00:12:27.029 yet wretched in its disbelief and rejection of truth. 00:12:27.029 --> 00:12:31.190 A fierce, grinding battle raged between the two sides, 00:12:31.190 --> 00:12:34.190 in which the believers defended their faith, 00:12:34.190 --> 00:12:37.190 while the polytheists fought for their disbelief, 00:12:37.190 --> 00:12:41.190 until Allah decreed victory and spoils for His soldiers, 00:12:41.190 --> 00:12:44.190 and decreed for the soldiers of al-Lat and al-'Uzza 00:12:44.190 --> 00:12:47.190 utter disappointment and defeat. 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) 00:12:50.190 --> 00:12:54.190 Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.