313 versus 1000

In order to reply their enemy with the same coins, Muslims decided to disallow the trade caravans from passing near Medina. But the problem in carrying out this scheme was that the Quraish had trade agreements with all the tribes living on those routes and they used to pay them a specific amount as tax for providing sale passage for their trade caravans.

Holy Prophet decided to call upon the Bedouin tribes and invited them to have coalition with Muslims telling them about the atrocities and inflictions of Quraish for Muslims. Those tribes not only listened to the Holy Prophet and agreed to be his allies but also gave up the income from Makkans. Holy Prophet invited the leaders of Ghaffar, Banu Zumra, Jahina and Banu Madlige tribes to embrace Islam. Many people accepted the invitation and embraced Islam and resulting this derive many tribes became allies of Muslims. Habitations of those tribes were on the routs oldie trade caravans.

In absence of the Holy Prophet few camel-riders lead by lbn-e-Jabeer raided Medina. They put many houses on fire and looted the belongings of Muslims. Inquiry revealed that that was a conspiracy of Quraish. In order to curb such conspiracies Holy Prophet selected eight Muslims and appointed Abdullah Bin Hajsh as their commander. On the second last day of Rajab (a month that was revered by Makkans) Abdullah reached Nakhlah. On the very same day a caravan that was carrying skins and currants also lodged there. Abdullah tried to obstruct them. That caravan had four people of Quraish.

They tried to resist and one of them was killed, two were taken prisoners and one of them escaped. Muslims truck all the goods into their custody.

Makkans and the Jews of Medina both agitated and charged Holy Prophet with the allegation of attacking a caravan in the month of Rajab violating the long respected traditions of Arabia. When Abdullah returned Medina with the goods into their possession, the Muslims also got confused. Holy Prophet also felt sorry for the incident and he ordered to keep the goods in a place and nobody to take anything from them unless some decision is not made in that regard. In that situation the following verses of Sura-e-Baqra were revealed upon the Holy Prophet.

"They ask thee concerning lighting in the Prohibited Months? Tell them that fighting; in these months is a grave offense but graver is, in the sight of God, to create hindrances in following the path of God to deny God and to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque of Kaaba and drive out the worthy people from there. Oppression and creating disorder is a crime even greater than killing."

Soon after this incident another caravan of Makkans heading for Makka was to pass through the territories of Medina, This caravan lead by Ahu Sufyan was carrying goods having worth of 50,000 dinars on two hundred camels. A rumor of an attack on that caravan by Muslims panicked the Makkans and they sent an army of nine hundred and filly warriors who were to ride seven hundred camels and one hundred horses to attack Muslims.

When the news of attack reached the Muslims they arranged an army of three hundred men with seventy camels and two horses to combat.

Both the armies met at Baddar on the 17th of Ramazan of 2 AH. Muslim army was only one third of the army of the Makkans hut God helped them and they defeated them. Abu Jehal the general of the Makkan Army was killed in this battle. This event of the success of Muslims is reported in the holy Quran in these words

 "It was not ye who slew them: it was God. When thou threw a handful of dust, it was thy act but God threw it so that He might confer a gracious benefit on the believers. Indeed God is He who heareth and knoweth all things.” (Al Anfal: V, 17)

Upon receiving the news of victory of Muslims in the battle people of Makka decided to avenge this defeat with another battle. Abu Sufyan led those people who wanted to battle with Muslims. His son, father-in-law and son-in-law were killed in the Battle of Baddar whereas the other son was taken prisoner in the war. Ahu Sufyan had sworn that he would have vengeance from Muslims and till he has not avenged the killings he would not sleep with wife. His wife also vowed that if she could lay her hands on the murderer of her son, father and brother she would chew on his liver. She also announced that if the killers would be more than one, she would cut the ears, noses and tongues of all of them and would wear them as a garland around her neck and would dance in the battle field one the day the Muslims would be defeated. She announced a lucrative reward to kill the murderer of her relatives.

Immediately soon after the Battle of Baddar the elder daughter of the Holy Prophet passed away and soon after her death, his first grandchild and his daughter also passed away.

Holy Prophet had constituted some basic rules. One of those rules was that the Jews of Medina would not conspire against Muslims with Makkans. But, the Jews violated this agreement and few of their poets went to Makka to incite the feelings of the people of Makka and provoke them to fight against the Muslims. Those Jewish poets of Medina arrived in Makka in such a volatile situation when the people of Makka were enraged and were crying for vengeance. Leaders of the tribes had forbidden the mourning for the dead and had announced that if anyone whether man or woman, found mourning would be expelled from the town and the tribe.

After the death of Abu Jehal, a three-member committee comprising of Abi Lahub, Abu Sufyan and Sufwan Bin Umiyah was formed who swore that till the Islam is not completely uprooted, they would not feel at rest.