Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :The first great victory of the followers of Islam over the aggressive unbelievers was achieved in the battle of Badar. The forces attacking Madina to extinguish the light of Islam had to face defeat on the 17th Ramzan. This day, thus,reminds the Muslim Ummah of this significant victory, which turned the history towards establishing Islam. It was a fight against a mighty force, well equipped with arms and ammunitions. But a very small number, 313 dedicated companions of Hazrat Muhammad (Sm) under his leadership with their unflinching faith and sacrifice, proved them to be mightier and won the battle. The Holy Quran reveals : “Allah had helped you/At Badar, when you were/Contemptible little force;/Then fear Allah; thus/May you show your gratitude.” (Sura Al-Imran 3: 123, The Holy Quran : Translation and Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali). According to historians, this was a turning point in the lives of the new Muslims, who faced inhuman torture at Makka and were attacked at Madina, where they had got shelter. Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “Gratitude to Allah is not to be measured by words. It should show itself in conduct and life. If all the Muslims had learned the true lesson from the victory at Badar, their archers would not have left the posts appointed for them, nor the two tribes mentioned in the last note ever wavered in their faith.”‘Zihad’ has long been a concept of misunderstanding and misinterpretation. ‘Zihad’ means ‘the exerting of one’s power’, ‘repelling the enemy’ ‘struggle to the utmost of one’s capacity.’ It is not synonymous with war for worldly gains and power. Zihad as war is the last resort of Muslims as a defensive step, while they are attacked by evil forces, and are victims of oppression. In such a situation permission to fight was given : “To those against whom/War is made, permission/Is given (to fight) because/They are wronged ; -and verily,/Allah is Most Powerful/For their aid.” (Sura Hajj 22:39, Do) Another verse of the Holy Quran demarks the limit of fight and proclaims peace as goal : “But if the enemy/ Incline towards peace,/ Do thou (also) incline/ Towards peace, and trust /In God: for He is the One/That heareth and knoweth (all things).” (Sura Anfal 8:61, Do) A. Yusuf Ali comments : While we must always be ready for the good fight lest it be forced on us, even in the midst of the fight we must always be ready for peace if there is any inclination towards peace on the other side. There is no merit merely in a fight by itself. It should be a joyful duty not for itself, but to establish the reign of peace and righteousness and Allah’s Law .” Zihad in the shape of war is a necessity to protect and foil inhuman aggression and oppression. But if the invaders ‘incline towards peace’, it is to be honoured and accepted. The Zihad of Badar, the defensive wars, the verses of the Holy Quran in this regard and Sunnah of Rasulullah (SM)-all testify to the goal ‘peace’.It is also a lesson of the Zihad of Badar that ritual of fasting cannot be separated from struggle for survival.
