The two forces clashed with all their might — the believers, firm as one body, fighting with unshakable resolve and the unseen support of their Lord. Before them, the Quraysh army — three times their number, heavily armed and richly equipped — began to falter. Their lines broke; their courage crumbled. Panic swept through their ranks. Each man now thought only of saving his own life. Their most defiant leader, Abu Jahl, had fallen.
After that, no real resistance remained. The army dissolved into chaos. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the believers — and a humiliating defeat for the disbelievers.
Among those slain was Umayyah ibn Khalaf, the cruel master of Bilal. His tyranny had come to an end, and all his desperate efforts to escape proved useless.
The voice of the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] was heard across the battlefield, glorifying His Lord:
“Allahu Akbar! Praise be to Allah who has fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and defeated the enemy alone!”
In the Battle of Badr, Quraysh lost seventy of their most esteemed men, and seventy more were taken captive. This blow struck deep into the heart of Makkah. When the remnants of their army returned home, they brought with them not the spoils of war but the shame of utter defeat. As the news spread, cries of grief rose from every quarter of Makkah. The screams that once came from tortured believers were now the wails of their former tormentors.
The Muslims had lost fourteen martyrs — eight from the Ansar and six from the Muhajirun. Among them was the young brother of Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, only sixteen years old, who had joined the army yearning for martyrdom.
The martyrs were buried with honor. The Quraysh had fled, leaving their dead behind. Their corpses were gathered and cast into a desolate pit, which was then covered with earth.
The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] stood over them and said:
“O people of the pit! Have you found true what your idols promised you? For we have surely found true what our Lord promised us.”
Yes — the promise had been fulfilled. That small band of believers had utterly routed the mighty army of Quraysh, men seasoned in war and rich in worldly power.
The return from Badr was triumphant. Those who had rushed from Madinah to intercept a caravan now returned as victors, bringing with them spoils and captives.
The Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] sent ahead Abdullah ibn Rawahah [radiyallahu anh] to deliver the glad tidings to the believers in Madinah.
Abdullah rode swiftly, his heart ablaze with joy. Upon reaching the city, he cried out:
“O Ansar! Rejoice, for the Messenger of Allah is safe and victorious! Rejoice in the defeat, the death, and the capture of the disbelievers!”
As he passed through the streets, he named the slain leaders of Quraysh one by one. Madinah erupted with emotion — voices rose in joy and praise, tears mingled with laughter, and disbelief turned to wonder. How could such a small army overcome the might of Quraysh?
Some ran to meet the returning army at a place called Rawha, embracing the warriors and sharing in the joy of victory. When the army finally entered Madinah, the city overflowed with celebration. Every heart was filled with gratitude; every doubt was gone.
Makkah, meanwhile, was shrouded in grief. Their pride was crushed, their idols humiliated, and their wealth — the caravan that had sparked this war — was now turned to fund revenge.
The believers’ confidence grew, while fear entered the hearts of the idolaters who had always seen themselves as superior in number and strength.
News of the victory reached Abyssinia. The Negus, the Christian king who had protected the early Muslims, was overjoyed. He thanked Allah and summoned Ja‘far [radiyallahu anh] and his companions to share the news and rejoice together.
Before reaching Madinah, the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] halted at a place called Safra to divide the spoils. Even those who had been assigned duties in Madinah — nine men who could not fight due to illness or necessity — were granted full shares. Among them was ‘Uthman [radiyallahu anh], who had stayed behind to care for his ailing wife, the Prophet’s daughter Ruqayyah [radiyallahu anha].
After the Battle
The captives were brought to Madinah. The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] ordered that they be treated with kindness. Among the prisoners were those who had once mocked Islam, tormented believers, and led the persecution in Makkah — yet the Prophet still commanded mercy.
One of the captives was Suhayl ibn Amr, a gifted orator who had used his eloquence to incite hatred against the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]. When ‘Umar [radiyallahu anh] saw him, he could not restrain himself. He said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to knock out Suhayl’s front teeth so that his tongue will protrude when he speaks. Then he will never again stand before a crowd to speak against you.”
But the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] forbade it. “No, O ‘Umar,” he said. “If I were to mutilate, Allah would mutilate me on the Day of Judgment. It is not fitting for a prophet to torture.”
Among the captives were also those who had not come out of hatred but from fear of being called cowards if they stayed behind. One of them was Abu al-‘As, the Prophet’s son-in-law, the husband of his daughter Zaynab [radiyallahu anha].
There were also close relatives of the Prophet among the prisoners — his uncle al-‘Abbas [radiyallahu anh], his cousin ‘Aqil, the brother of ‘Ali [radiyallahu anh], and Nawfal ibn al-Harith, the son of his great-uncle. Even Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr’s [radiyallahu anh] own brother, Abu ‘Aziz ibn ‘Umayr, who had carried the Quraysh banner, was among the captives.
The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] sought counsel from his Companions regarding their fate. Abu Bakr [radiyallahu anh], courageous yet gentle in heart, advised leniency: that they be released in exchange for ransom. He hoped that someday they or their descendants might embrace Islam — that mercy today might become faith tomorrow. Moreover, the ransom would strengthen the Muslims financially after their long hardships.
‘Umar [radiyallahu anh], on the other hand, spoke with his usual clarity and firmness. “Most of these captives,” he said, “are the very ones who oppressed us in Makkah, who drove us from our homes, and who sought to extinguish Islam. They should be executed. Let every man slay his own kin among them, so that it may be known that we harbor no love for the disbelievers — that our hearts hold only the love of Allah.”
It was a dividing line between truth and falsehood — and he was al-Faruq, the one who distinguished between them.
The Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam], however, chose Abu Bakr’s counsel. He announced that the captives would be released upon payment of ransom. Quraysh sent wealth to redeem their men.
Among those who paid was al-‘Abbas [radiyallahu anh], the Prophet’s uncle, a man of great wealth. He was required to pay not only his own ransom but also that of his nephew ‘Aqil.
Then came the revelation of verses confirming ‘Umar’s inner perception — verses that reminded the believers that the path of truth is not won by sentiment, but by divine command and unwavering faith.