but was instead the recovery of some of their rightful property.

The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—set out with three hundred-odd men. They had only seventy camels between them and just two horses. Their equipment was meagre and their numbers few, yet Allah caused them and their enemy to meet without prior appointment, so that He might bring about what He had willed.

Abu Sufyān, who was in charge of the caravan, learned that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—had marched out to seize it. He therefore diverted the caravan toward the coastal route and sent a herald to Quraysh, crying for help: “Come quickly and rescue the caravan!”

The Quraysh set out, just as Allah described them: “They marched from their homes in arrogant defiance, to be seen by people, and hindering others from the path of Allah” (al-Anfāl 8:47).

While still on the road, they were informed that the caravan had escaped. They debated among themselves, saying, “The caravan is safe; why should we fight?” Abu Jahl, however, retorted, “By Allah, we shall not turn back until we reach Badr. There we will stay three days, slaughter camels, drink wine, feed the people, and let the Arabs hear of us, so they will continue to fear us forever!”

Such were their words—sheer arrogance, pride, and self-glorification. Yet, praise be to Allah, the Arabs ended up speaking of them only for the ignominious defeat the likes of which they had never tasted, when they confronted the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—during Ramadan of the second year after the Hijrah, on the seventeenth day of that month. When the two forces met, Allah revealed to the angels: “Indeed, I am with you, so strengthen those who believe; I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve….”