The Quraysh recalled their conflict with the Banu Bakr

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

'Abu Sufyan received intelligence about the movement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions from Medina, intending to intercept and seize his caravan. Reacting swiftly, he diverted the caravan's route towards the coastal path.

He also sent Dumdumibnu ^Amr al-Ghifariyyal-Kinaniyy to Quraysh to alert them and urge them to protect their wealth, and to inform them that the Prophet ﷺ and his companions were targeting the caravan. ‘Abu Sufyan had been closely monitoring the Muslims' activities, personally gathering intelligence on their movements. He even advanced to Badr himself to scout for information. inquiring the locals: ‘Have you seen anyone’? "No, except for two men" they replied.

He said, "Show me where they had their camels rest." They showed him, and he picked up some dung, crumbled it, and found date pits inside. He exclaimed, "By Allah, this is the fodder of Yathrib (Medina)!" Through this inspection, he deduced that the men were from Medina, meaning they were Muslims, and concluded that his caravan was in danger. Consequently, he sent Dumdum ibnu ^Amr al-Ghifariyy al-Kinaniyy to Quraysh to alert them, and he altered the caravan's route, heading towards the coast of the Red Sea (known at the time as the Sea of Al-Qilzim).

The Pagans' preparation for departure

Dumdum arrived in Mecca, having altered his camel’s saddle, cut off its nose, and torn his shirt from both the front and the back. He entered Mecca crying out at the top of his voice: "O Quraysh, the caravan, the caravan! Your goods are with ‘Abu Sufyan and Muhammad with his companions have intercepted it. I don't think you will reach it. Help! Help!"

The people of Mecca quickly prepared, saying: "Does Muhammad and his companions think this is like the caravan of Ibnu l-Hadramiyy? No, by Allah, they will certainly learn otherwise."

They were divided between two options: either to go out to battle themselves or to appoint a substitute in their place. They hastened to prepare for departure, and none of their prominent leaders stayed behind except ‘Abu Lahab ibnu ^Abdi l-Muttalib al-Hashimiyy al-Qurashiyy, who had arranged for a replacement due to a debt he owed. Aside from Banu ^Adiyy, from whom no one participated, all other Quraysh tribes took part in the campaign.

When they had completed their preparations and resolved to set out, the Quraysh recalled their conflict with the Banu Bakr ibnu ^Abdi Manati bni Kinanah which nearly dissuaded them from leaving. They said, "We fear that they might come upon us from behind!"

The war between the Quraysh and the Banu Bakr was due to bloodshed between them. Then, ‘Iblis appeared to them in the guise of Suraqah ibnu Malik al-Kinaniyy, who was one of the nobilities of Banu Kinanah. He told them: " "Today, no one will prevail over you, and I am your ally to prevent Kinanah from bringing you anything you would dislike." Thus, they hastened to depart.

Thus, the saying of Allah in the Qur'an was revealed describing this incident:

﴿وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَكُمْ فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَتِ الْفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْكُمْ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ﴾

This means: “And when Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and said, "No one can overcome you today from among the people, and surely, I am your protector." But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said, "Truly, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed, I fear Allah. And the punishment of Allah is severe."

The army of Quraysh initially consisted of about one thousand three hundred fighters. They had with them one hundred horses, six hundred suits of armour, and a large number of camels, the exact number of which is unknown. Their general commander was ‘Abu Jahl and the provisions for the army were handled by nine men from the nobles of Quraysh. These men would slaughter nine camels one day and ten the next.        

It was said that the Quraysh army numbered one thousand, and they had with them two hundred horses, which they led alongside their camels. Their maidservants beat drums and sang songs mocking the Muslims.

 Following: (Episode 4) "We will fight at your right, at your left, before you, and behind you!"