Anfal 11-14

Anfal 11-14

11- AS SLUMBER OVERTAKES YOU WITH PEACE FROM ALLAH. AND HE SENT DOWN WATER FROM HEAVEN TO PURIFY YOU WITH AND CLEAR YOU OF THE IMPURITIES OF THE DEVIL, TO STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS AND TO MAKE YOUR FOOTHOLD FIRM.

12- AS YOUR LORD REVEALS TO THE ANGELS, I AM WITH YOU, SUPPORT THE BELIEVERS, I WILL THROW FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEN STRIKE THEM ON THE NECKS AND STRIKE EVERY LIMB.

13-THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN ANIMOSITY WITH ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, FOR ALLAH IS SEVERE IN PUNISHMENT.

14- TASTE THIS, AND THEN THE DISBELIEVERS WILL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT OF THE FIRE.

Just before the battle of Badr took place, Allah the Highest supported the Muslims in a number of ways, mentioned in this Ayah.  They did not happen in the same order they narrated in this Ayah.  They are:

1. The night of the battle, Allah the Highest threw peace and tranquillity into the Muslim’s hearts, and made them have a very good night’s sleep.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, stayed up all night praying, while the rest went to sleep.
2. Both armies wanted to get to the spring of Badr first, so as to have control of the water supply.  The Muslim army was short of water, to drink, to wash in and also to bath.  Allah the Highest sent them down rain, which watered them and their animals and allowed them to bath and to do Wadoo.  The rain was not enough to hinder their march; on the contrary, it made the sand firmer so that they were able to walk on it faster.  
3. On the other hand, the disbelievers had the rain so hard, that it made the ground muddy and slowed them down, because of this, the Muslims arrived at Badr first.
4. Allah the Highest sent down a thousand of the Angels to support the Muslims.  It was reported that there were 500 under Gabriel’s command and 500 under Michael’s command.  

It is reported that when Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, sat down pleading to Allah the Highest for support, with Abu Bakr next to him, he was overtaken by slumber, then he woke up smiling and said: “Good news Abu Bakr, this is Gabriel here and  he is looking dusty”.  Then he went out from under the canopy and said: “THE CROWD WILL BE DEFEATED AND WILL TURN THEIR BACKS TO YOU”.  (S:55 A:45)

Allah the Highest tells us that this severe and swift punishment of the disbelievers, which took place at Badr, was due to their animosity with Allah the Highest and His messenger, prayer and peace upon him.

5. Allah the Highest struck fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, which weakened them and their resolve. 

All the above was great support for the Muslims in their first battle with the Idolaters.  Yet, the Muslims had to fight hard, some were killed and others were injured.

As Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the Muslims reached Badr first, and took up their position there, a man of his companions advised a change in the position of the army, if the position they took was not by a command from Allah the Highest.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, took this man’s advice and changed the position of the army.  

This shows us that Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, who was the religious, spiritual, civil and military leader of the Muslims, did not disdain from acting on the advice of one of his follower.  This is a lesson for leaders to learn from.