ERA OF ISLAM

Seeing Hazrat Muhammad "Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam "(Peace Be Upon Him) getting success, and Islam flourished in Madina, the infidels of Mecca became more furious than ever. Now they planned to uproot Islam and the Muslims forever from the face of the world, so they prepared to invade Madina with armed forces. 

       First of all, they attacked Madina in the second year of Hijrah. As this battle was fought in the field of Badr, about eighty miles north of Madina, so it is known as the battle of Badr. In this battle, there were only 313 Mujahids in Islamic army while the Quraish had invaded with more than a thousand warriors. The infidels were well armed and well Equipped while the Muslim soldiers were poorly equipped. Some of them had come over to the battlefield with broken swords only. But the Muslims fought against the enemy more than thrice in number, with such a zeal and bravery that the Quraish had no way but to nee, leaving a lot of dead bodies on the battlefield and several war prisoners in the hands of the Muslim army. The Quraish chief Abu Jahl, one of the greatest enemies of Islam, was also among those infidels who were killed in the battle of Badr. This was the first Jehad Holy War in Islamic history, and it was not because the Muslims wanted to fight but it was an aggression by the infidels with the intention to annihilate the Muslims and Islam. The Muslims, although not sufficient in number and insufficiently armed, were proved far more devoted, zealous and gallant. Thus, they deserved the marvellous victory they got. 

      Next year that is in the third year of Hijra, the Quraish came to invade Madina again. This battle is called, “The Battle of Uhud'. Uhud is a mountain about two miles away in the north of Madina the battle was fought at the foot of this mountain so it in called “The Battle of Uhud.’ 

      In this battle, there were only 700 soldiers in the Muslim army while the strength of the Quraish was three thousand. So in this battle, too, the Quraish were about four times tear in number than the Muslims. The Quraish army was under the command of Abu Sufyan, another chief of the Quraish after Abu Jahl. The brave and bold uncle or the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Hazrat Hamza (RA) was martyred in this battle by Wahshi, a slave of Abu Suryan's wife Hindah. In the beginning, of the battle the Muslims had advanced, and the infidels were again about to be the rep but because of the remissness of those who were on guard to the back side of the mountain, the fleeing enemy attacked from the back side, and the Muslim army was dispersed. This was a very critical moment for the Muslims, and a false rumour about the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was spread. Although some injuries were inflicted to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was saved. However, this false rumour made the Muslims desperate and now they began to think their own life useless after the Holy Prophet (PBUH) they began to fight desperately and so the enemy could not dare to attack Madina. The enemy, instead of making any advance towards Madina, went back without obtaining any gain. 

       The third invasion of the Quraish is named'The Battle of Ditches or"The Battle of Ahzab." This happened in the 5th year of Hijra. In this battle, a great army of the Quraish, under the command of Abu Sufyan, and with the help of many other Arab tribes and Jews tried to besiege Madina. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) called a meeting of his companions to have the consultation about the war strategy. This was the occasion when Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) who was an Iranian by birth and was well aware of the Iranian war tactics, advised the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that considering the difference between the numbers of the Muslims and the enemy it was not advisable to fight in the open field. So it was better to dig ditches around the city and defend it standing behind the ditches. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) liked and agreed to Hazrat Salman's (RA) suggestion and started to dig ditches. About three thousand companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) took part in this work and it was accomplished within a fortnight.

      The infidels had come to attack Madina with the intention to give the Muslims a crushing defeat but thanks to ALLAH, who created such natural situation that the infidels themselves were put to trouble and were compelled to give up their fruitless siege. So the war of Ahzab or Khandaq (Trenches) came to an end without any loss to the Muslims or gain for the infidels.