Page 28 - World Religions I - Islam

given to Allah.
• In order to induce the Medians to attack their Meccan brethren, the obligation of war as a sacred duty
(jihad) was prescribed. Muhammad, while still in Mecca, had previously been given permission to fight
against his persecutors (see Surah 22:40-41).133
o "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is
good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know
not." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:216 (trans. usuf Ali)
o A small band of Muslims carried out a raid against a Meccan caravan during the sacred month when war
was banned throughout Arabia.
• Allah excused this behavior by revealing Surah 2:217:
o "They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare
therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in
Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a greater with
Allah; for persecution is worse than killing." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:217a (trans. Pickthall)
o Emboldened by successful raids against Meccan caravans, a force of some 300 Muslims attacked and
routed about 1000 Meccans at the Battle of Badr in AD 624. Traditional accounts have angels, led by
Gabriel, joining the Muslims for a supernatural victory.135
• The Muslim victory at Badr enraged the Quraish in Mecca, while emboldening the
cautious Medinans to join Muhammad's ranks.
• The Battle of Badr figures largely in Muslim tradition and in the Qur'an. It is regarded as the
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foundation for all subsequent successes of Muslim armies.
• Subsequent revelations illustrate the surge in confidence in the Muslim's military superiority.
o "O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast, they shall
overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a
thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without
intelligence." - Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) 8:65 (trans. Pickthall) It is interesting that Surah 8:66,
which must have been revealed some time after verse 65, reduces the number of pagans a
hundred Muslims can overcome from a thousand to two hundred. After the Battle of Uhud,
Muhammad had to explain how it was that the Muslims could not overcome the Quraish.136
• Meccan forces retaliated against the Muslims in AD 625, resulting in the Battle of Uhud.61
o The Meccan force of 3000 men defeated the Muslim force of 700, and Muhammad was
wounded by a sword stroke which cost him two teeth.62
o The Battle of Uhud was a significant setback for the Muslims.
o Muhammad received consolation and encouragement through the receipt of a revelation.
 a. "Allah did indeed fulfill His promise to you when ye with His permission Were
about to annihilate your enemy -until ye flinched and fell to disputing about the
order, and disobeyed it after He brought you in sight (of the booty) which ye
covet. Among you are some that hanker after this world and some that desire
the Hereafter. Then did He divert you from your foes in order to test you, but
He forgave you: For Allah is full of grace to those who believe." - Al- Imran (The
Family of Imran) 3:152 (trans. Yusuf Ali) This verse references the misfortunes at
Uhud, which took place as the Muslims were close to victory. The Muslim rear
guard abandoned their position in order to despoil the Meccan camp, leaving
the way open for a counterattack by Meccan cavalry.134
• The defeat at Uhud raised theological difficulties in light of Muhammad's earlier claim that the
victory at Badr was a sign of God's favor. These problems are referred to in various passages in the
Qur'an:63
o "Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uhud], although you had

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