Every Muslim is acquainted with the Battle of Badr; if you were a participant in your mosque you might have done a play on it or been told about it by your parents. Historically, it is one of the most famous and most important Islamic battles in the religion.
It all started in year 624 AD when the Quraish tribe in Mecca started grand-scale preparations to attack the Prophet (PBUH) and Medina. All profits accrued by the Quraishi were planned to be spent on horses and other war tools to fight the Muslims in Medina.
A caravan from Abu Sufyan was travelling between Mecca and Syria with all the Quraishi treasures. The Muslims planned a raid on the caravan in revenge of the Quraishi abolishing them from their Meccan homes. The Prophet (PBUH) had initially no interest in engaging in battle but a revelation from God told him to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Quraishi were camping near Badr, 200 miles from Mecca and 80 miles from Medina. The caravan was never intercepted, which the Quraishi’s had planned to be their signal to start marching towards Medina. The army from Mecca had 1000 well equipped soldiers from Meccan houses such as the Quraishi and Umayyad’s. From Medina, an army of merely 313 persons, 70 camels, and two horses proceeded to meet the army from Mecca.
On the 17th of Ramadan, 624 AD, the Muslims had reached Badr and the Battle between the two armies commenced. Both sides fought bravely and there was a mix of individual combats between great names from both sides as well as massive clashes between the armies. On the tenth day of the battle, the Prophet (PBUH) prayed to God:
O, Allah; if this group of believers are defeated, You shall not be worshipped on earth anymore.
Ultimately, with holy zeal they prospered and defeated the opposition. The Muslims drove back the Meccans, there were many casualties and prisoners taken by the Muslims. William Muir writes:
In pursuance of Mahomet’s commands the citizens of Medina and such of the refugees as possessed houses received the prisoners and treated them with much consideration. ‘Blessings be on the men of Medina’, said one of these prisoners in later days, ‘they made us ride while they themselves walked; they gave us wheaten bread to eat when there was little of it, contenting themselves with dates’.
The war had many consequences, the main being the boost of morale the Muslims felt in their victory especially after the immense loss they had suffered since the beginning of Islam.
123 And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah ; perhaps you will be grateful. 124 [Remember] when you said to the believers, “Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down? 125 Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction] 126 And Allah made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise – 127 That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed.
Excerpt from Quran 3:123-127 (Ali ‘Imran)
Chapter 30: The Battle of Badr in The Message by Ayatullah Jafar Subhani