The Prophet Muhammad A simple Guide to his Life
The Life of the Prophet
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Madinah in 624 A.D. (2 A.H.), and is known as the
Battle of Badr. With special divine succour the
battle resulted in complete victory for the Prophet
and his Companions. Seventy Makkans, most of
them leaders, were killed and the same number
were taken prisoner.
The defeat at Badr provoked the Makkan leaders
more than ever. They incited the Makkans to do
battle by saying that they had to avenge the killing
of their people at Badr. (In ancient Arabia the
avenging of killings was considered a sacred duty
devolving upon the survivors). Consequently
several skirmishes took place between the two
parties. In the following year the Makkans under
Abu Sufyan collected a large army and reached the
borders of Madinah. The two armies engaged in a
fierce battle near the Uhud mountain. The believers
had actually won the battle but then, taking
advantage of a mistake inadvertently committed by
the Companions, the Makkans managed to charge
again. The Muslims, confounded by this sudden
attack, suffered great loss in terms of lives. The
Prophet himself was wounded. The Makkans could
avenge at Uhud their defeat at Badr.
