Badr lies 200 miles from Mecca and 80 miles from Madinah.  It was the site of the first battle fought by the forces of the Islamic state.  The Muslims were outnumbered by 3:1 by an army of Meccan’s led by Abu Jahl.  In the winter of 2 A.H. (after hijrah) his army was proceeding toward Madinah when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) sent out his forces of 313 to prevent bloodshed inside the city limits.

 The provisions of the Muslims was scanty.  Three or four men had to share one camel, taking turns riding.  The standard bearer of this small courageous band was Imam Ali (a.s).  There was a single horseman-Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi.  Some of the Muslims were armed only with sticks made from palm trees.

 Warfare in those days was quite different than what we know today.  Before the general battle began, a number of duels were fought between the leading warriors of each side.  When the Muslims reached the fertile vale of Badr, a favorite watering place and camping ground on the caravan route, three stations northwards from Mecca, the Prophet ordered a halt, taking suitable positions near a stream of fresh water, to await the arrival of the infidel army.  On the next day, Friday, the 17th of the Month of Ramadhan, the enemy blowing their trumpets, approached the Muslims.

 Three of the infidel warriors, Utbah, the father-in-law of Abu Sufyan, his brother, Shaibah, and Al-Walid came out of the ranks and arrogantly challenged the Muslims.  Three Ansars of Madinah immediately stepped out to accept the challenge.  The Meccan’s were outraged and refused to fight the Ansars saying:  "We have not come all this way to cross arms with the Madinites, against whom we bear no grudge.  We challenge the people of Mecca who have the courage to defy us."

 Upon hearing this Imam Ali (a.s.) and Ubaidah, both cousins of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), and Hamzah, his uncle, responded to the challenge. Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613), the English diplomat and founder of the Bodleian Library, says:  "At the taunt of the Quraishites, Ali dashed out of the Muslim ranks glittering in breastplate and helmet.  He was soon followed by Ubaidah bin al-Harith, a paternal cousin of  Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), and Hamzah who wore an ostrich feather in his cuirass.  The three companions were thus closely related to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and fulfilled the Quraish demand for Hashimite blood!"

 Col. Bodley continues, "The three duels were as rapid as they were murderous.  Hamzah killed Shaibah, while Ali killed Al-Walid.  Ubaidah was mortally wounded, but before he fell, Ali and Hamzah were able to come to his rescue.  Hamzah hurled himself at Utbah, and with a sweep of his sword cut off his head.  In a few minutes three of Mecca’s most important warriors had been sent to find out the truth about the hell which Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) had promised them.!"
 "Three more Meccan’s ventured forward from Abu Jahl’s army to challenge Imam Ali (a.s.) and Hamzah.  They too went down before the sword of Islam.  A further three were dealt the same fate.  In a moment of hesitation, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) sent his soldiers charging into a general attack."

 The Muslims invoked Allah to help them and give them victory over their enemy.  Allah, the Exalted, responded by supplying them with angels:
 "When you sought aid from your Lord, so He answered you:  I will assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another."  Holy Qur’an (8:9)

 The line of Quraish wavered and a number of their bravest and noblest fell; they took to flight ignominiously.  In their haste to escape they threw away their armor and abandoned their transport animals with all their camp and equipment.

 The battle ended with the death of seventy of the unbelievers, almost half of them killed by Imam Ali (a.s.) alone.