Prophet's era · 624

Battle of Badr

About 313 Muslims defeated a Makkan force roughly three times larger. Abu Jahl was killed, and Madinah became a power the tribes of Arabia had to take seriously.

The site of the battle on the 632 map. Shaded: Islamic state at the Prophet's death, 632.

Key facts

When: 624
Where: Badr, south-west of Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Sides: Muslims of Madinah vs Quraysh of Makkah
Commanders: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) vs Abu Jahl
Result: Muslim victory
Type: Prophet's era
Chapter: 1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs

The wider picture: The Prophet's state in Madinah

In the ten years after the Hijrah, Madinah grew from one town into a state that held most of Arabia. When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died in June 632, the two great powers next door, Byzantium and Sasanian Persia, were worn out after decades of war with each other.

See the 632 map Read chapter 1

More prophet's era battles

All 8 prophet's era battles · Battle explorer

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