The Battle of Beder

This victory enabled Mohammed to encourage his men and to increase the number of his followers.

Continuing Mohammed,
our selection from The History of the Saracens by Simon Ockley published in1718. The selection is presented in 10.5 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Mohammed.

Time: March 13, 624
Place: On the road to Mecca from Syria

The same year the apostle sent some of his people to plunder a caravan going to Mecca; which they did and brought back two prisoners to Medina. This was the first act of hostility committed by the Muslims against the idolaters. The second was the battle of Beder. * The history of the battle is thus given by Abulfeda:

[* This battle site is also known as “Badr”.]

The apostle, hearing that a caravan of the Meccans was coming home from Syria, escorted by Abu Sofian at the head of thirty men, placed a number of soldiers in ambuscade to intercept it. Abu Sofian, being informed thereof by his spies, sent word immediately to Mecca, whereupon all the principal men except Abu Laheb — who, however, sent Al Asum son of Hesham in his stead — marched out to his assistance, making in all nine hundred and fifty men, whereof two hundred were cavalry. The apostle of God went out against them with three hundred and thirteen men, of whom seventy-seven were refugees from Mecca, the rest being helpers from Medina; they had with them only two horses and seventy camels, upon which they rode by turns. The apostle encamped near a well called Beder, from the name of the person who was owner of it and had a hut made where he and Abu-Bekr sat. As soon as the armies were in sight of each other, three champions came out from among the idolaters, Otha son of Rabia, his brother Shaiba and Al Walid son of Otha; against the first of these, the prophet sent Obeidah son of Hareth, Hamza against the second and Ali against the third: Hamza and Ali slew each his man and then went to the assistance of Obeidah and having killed his adversary, brought off Obeidah, who, however, soon after died of a wound in his foot.

All this while the apostle continued in his hut in prayer, beating his breast so violently that his cloak fell off his shoulders and he was suddenly taken with a palpitation of the heart; soon recovering, however, he comforted Abu-Bekr, telling him God’s help was come. Having uttered these words, he forthwith ran out of his hut and encouraged his men and taking a handful of dust threw it toward the Koreishites and said, ‘May their faces be confounded,’ and immediately they fled. After the battle, Abdallah, the son of Masud, brought the head of Abu Jehel to the apostle, who gave thanks to God; Al As, brother to Abu Jehel, was also killed; Al Abbas also, the prophet’s uncle and Ocail son of Abu Taleb, were taken prisoners. Upon the news of this defeat Abu Laheb died of grief within a week.”

Of the Muslims died fourteen martyrs (for so they call all such as die fighting for Islamism). The number of idolaters slain was seventy; among whom my author names some of chief note, Hantala son of Abu Sofian and Nawfal, brother to Kadijah. Ali slew six of the enemy with his own hand.

The prophet ordered the dead bodies of the enemy to be thrown into a pit and remained three days upon the field of battle dividing the spoil; on occasion of which a quarrel arose between the helpers and the refugees and to quiet them the eighth chapter of the Koran was brought from heaven. It begins thus, “They will ask thee concerning the spoils: say, The spoils belong to God and his apostle”: and again in the same chapter, “And know that whenever ye gain any, a fifth part belongeth to God and to the apostle and his kindred and the orphans and the poor.” The other four-fifths are to be divided among those who are present at the action. The apostle, when he returned to Safra in his way to Medina, ordered Ali to behead two of his prisoners.

The victory at Beder was of great importance to Mohammed; to encourage his men and to increase the number of his followers, he pretended that two miracles were wrought in his favor, in this, as also in several subsequent battles: first, that God sent his angels to fight on his side; and second, made his army appear to the enemy much greater than it really was. Both these miracles are mentioned in the Koran, chapter viii. Al Abbas said he was taken prisoner by a man of a prodigious size (an angel, of course); no wonder, then, he became a convert.

As soon as the Muslims returned to Medina the Koreishites sent to offer a ransom for their prisoners, which was accepted and distributed among those who had taken them, according to the quality of the prisoners. Some had one thousand drachms for their share. Those who had only a small or no part of the ransom Mohammed rewarded with donations, so as to content them all.

The Jews had many a treaty with Mohammed and lived peaceably at Medina; till a Jew, having affronted an Arabian milk-woman, was killed by a Muslim. In revenge for this the Jews killed the Muslim, whereupon a general quarrel ensued. The Jews fled to their castles; but after a siege of fifteen days were forced to surrender at discretion. Mohammed ordered their hands to be tied behind them, determined to put them all to the sword and was with great difficulty prevailed upon to spare their lives and take all their property. Kaab, son of Ashraf, was one of the most violent among the Jews against Mohammed. He had been at Mecca and, with some pathetic verses upon the unhappy fate of those who had fallen at Beder, excited the Meccans to take up arms. Upon his return to Medina he rehearsed the same verses among the lower sort of people and the women.

Washington Irving begins here. Simon Ockley begins here.

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