"We will fight at your right, at your left, before you, and behind you!"

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

When ‘Abu Sufyan was assured of the caravan's safety, he dispatched a message from Al-Juhfah to the chieftains of Quraysh, informing them of his successful escape along with the caravan's security, and urging them to return to Mecca.

However, ‘Abu Jahl rose and declared, "By Allah, we shall not return until we reach Badr. There, we will remain for three days, slaughter camels, indulge in feasts, drink wine, and have our maidservants play music for us. The Arabs will hear of our march and assembly, and they will continue to hold us in fear for all time.’

Yet, the Banu Zuhrah tribe defied him, broke away from the army, and returned to Mecca. Before them, the Banu ^Adiyy tribe had already abstained from joining the march. Meanwhile, the majority of Quraysh's forces and their allies pressed on until they reached Badr.

The Arrival of the News of Quraysh's March to the Muslims

When the news of the caravan's escape and the determination of the Meccan leaders to fight the Muslims reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he consulted his companions on the matter. At that moment, a group of people became unsettled, and they feared the impending bloody confrontation. Verses from Suratu l-‘Anfal were then revealed, describing their condition:

﴿كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ * يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ * وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللَّهُ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكَافِرِينَ * لِيُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ الْبَاطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ﴾

The leaders of the Muhajirun unanimously supported the idea of advancing to meet the enemy. Among them were:

• Abu Bakr
• ^Umar ibnu l-Khattab
• Al-Miqdad ibnu l-‘Aswad

Al-Miqdad ibnu l-‘Aswad said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah, we will not say to you as the Children of ‘Isra’il said to Moses:

﴿قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَنْ نَدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ﴾

'They said, O Moses, indeed we will not enter it ever as long as they are within it; so, go yourself, may your Lord help you, and fight. We surely stay right here. But rather, proceed, and we are with you."

In another narration, ^Abdu l-Lah Ibnu Mas^ud reported: "I witnessed a moment with Al-Miqdad ibnu l-‘Aswad, and to have been the one in his place would be dearer to me than any worldly thing. He approached the Prophet ﷺ while he was supplicating against his enemies and declared: "We will not say as the people of Moses said: 'They said, O Moses, indeed we will not enter it ever as long as they are within it; so, go yourself, may your Lord help you, and fight. We surely stay right here.'

﴿قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَنْ نَدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ﴾

But instead, we will fight at your right, at your left, before you, and behind you.' I saw the face of the Prophet ﷺ light up with joy and delight."

However, the three leaders who spoke were from the Muhajirun, who were a minority in the army. This is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wished to know the opinion of the leaders of the ‘Ansar, as they made up the majority of the army. So, he ﷺ said, 'Give me your counsel, O people.' The ‘Ansariyy companion, Sa^d ibnu Mu^adh, who was the standard-bearer of the ‘Ansar, understood the intent of the Prophet ﷺ and stood up, saying: "We have believed in you, we have affirmed your trustworthiness, and testified that what you have brought is the truth. We have given you our pledges and covenants to hear and obey. So, proceed, O Messenger of Allah, with what you intend, for we are with you. By the One who sent you with the truth, if you were to lead us into this sea and plunge into it, we would plunge into it with you—not a single man among us would stay behind. We do not dislike meeting our enemy tomorrow. We are indeed patient in war, truthful in battle. We hope that Allah will show you from us that which will bring joy to your eyes. So, lead us forth with the blessing of Allah, the Exalted."

Sa^d ibnu ^Ubadah stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, by the One who owns my soul, if you were to command us to make our horses enter into the sea, we would do so, and if you were to command us to march our steeds to Barku l-Ghimad, we would do so."

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said: "March forward and be of good cheer, for Allah, the Exalted, has promised me one of the two groups. By Allah, it is as if I can already see the places where these people will fall."