Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
returning from Badr. Thus, in the opinion of some Western schol^139 ars, the
fast of Ramadan was probably not instituted at all before the battle of
Badr.^140
Another plausible theory concerning Ramadan and the battle of Badr is that
the Islamic fast was to commemorate the Muslims' victory over the pagans,
similar to the Passover (or according to Islamic sources: `Ashura)
celebration in remembrance of how God delivered the Israelites from
Pharaoh. Moreover, the narratives about Saul, Goliath and Dav^141 id actually
seem to have been composed after the battle of Badr, where even the
confusion of Saul for Gideon together with the example of Goliath's defeat
at the hands of the youthful David appear to have been used in
commemoration of the Muslims' victory over a superior force at Badr.^142
After his open break with the Jews, Muhammad also appears to have
introduced a number of regulations for his "communitized" followers. In
Qur'an 2 some of the basic Islamic laws governing revenge for murder (vv.
173f), inheritance (vv. 176f), marriage (vv. 220f), divorce (vv. 226f, 237f),
widowhood (vv. 234f, 241f) and debts (vv. 282f) are given, for example.
These new regulations seem to have had Judaism as their reference,
although in at least one case (concerning divorce and remarriage; 2:230) the
Islamic law is contrary to both the Old and New Testament.^143
The passage Qur'an 6:160fQur'an 6:160fQur'an 6:160fQur'an 6:160f may also have been composed about this time.
Jews and Christians could have possibly been meant in v. 160, and the
comment about Muhammad having nothing to do with such may mean that
he was slowly giving up the hope of being accepted by them as a messenger
of God. The v. 161 speaks of a ten-fold reward for good and a simple
"reward" for evil, and the v. 162 refers to the "way" (religion) of Abraham.
In v. 163 Muhammad claims to be the first Muslim, v. 164 is simil^144 ar to
Qur'an 39:9 and v. 165 is reminiscent of Qur'an 2:28.
The verse Qur'an 73:20Qur'an 73:20Qur'an 73:20Qur'an 73:20 could have been composed in this period. This
verse seems to refer to a congregational night vigil, the continuation of the
raids and that Muhammad was to pray for forgiveness.