the spoils of that battle at al-Ji‘rānah and set out from al-Ji‘rānah to perform ‘umrah. He then besieged al-Tā’if. Its people did not fight him in open battle with their ranks drawn up; rather, they fought him from behind a wall.

Thus, the last expedition involving open battle between forces drawn up in ranks was the expedition of Hunayn. Badr was the first expedition in which the Muslims prevailed over the leading warriors of the unbelievers. Allah killed their nobles and took their leaders captive, despite the Muslims’ small numbers and weakness. They numbered three hundred and a little over ten, with only two horses, while two or three men took turns riding a single camel. Their enemy numbered more than three times as many and came with strength, equipment, an imposing appearance, and arrogance.

The following year, the unbelievers attacked Medina, where the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions were residing. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions marched out to meet them, numbering about a quarter as many as the unbelievers. They left their families in Medina, then moved them elsewhere. At first, the Muslims had the upper hand, but then the advantage passed to the unbelievers. Most of the Muslim army fled, except for a few men around the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, some of whom were killed and others wounded. The unbelievers were intent on killing the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to the point that they broke one of his lateral incisors, gashed his forehead, and smashed the helmet on his head.

Allah revealed a portion of Surah Āl ‘Imrān concerning this battle, beginning with His words:

“And remember when you left your family in the morning to assign the believers their positions for battle.”

He also said concerning it:

“Indeed, those of you who turned away on the day the two armies met—it was Satan who caused them to slip