Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
as to when the booty was divided. Western scholars generally^173 feel that
Muhammad was well aware of the risk of breaking the peace of Rajab when
he sent out the raiding party.^174
Most collections of the Sira traditions show that the change of the qibla and
Muhammad's break with the Jews occurred in this time period.^175
In the 19th month after the Hijra (Ramadan), Muhammad assembled a
group of just over 300 men and 70 camels to raid the returning^176 Meccan
caravan, which they had failed to intercept about three months earlier. The
caravan was led by Abu Sufyan, who on hearing of Muhammad's plans,
alerted Mecca. The Meccans, who had not forgotten the raid at Nakhla,
quickly raised an army of 950 men, 700 camels and 100 horses led by Abu
Jahl to confront the Muslims. Unknown to Muhammad, the caravan had
given them the slip again, and when they arrived at Badr expecting to find
it, they discovered that the numerically superior Meccan forces were there
instead (cf. Qur'an 8:45). After realizing their situation, M^177 uhammad
nevertheless encouraged his followers to advance against the Meccans. In
planning for the fight, Muhammad is said to have made a mistake, and an
alternative suggestion of al-Hubab b. al-Mundhir is reported to have been
so clever that even Gabriel agreed with it. The battle of Bad^178179 r is said to
have taken place on either the 17th or 19th of Ramadan and began with a
series of duels, which were won by the Muslims. In the general combat
which ensued, the polytheists were routed. About 70 Meccans are reported
to have been killed and approximately an equal number were captured.^180
Abu Jahl and other Meccan leaders were among the dead. Muslim
casualties totaled only 14. The booty is said to have been 150 camels, 10
horses, equipment, weapons and much leather. Initially, Muham^181 mad
wanted to have all the prisoners executed, but `Umar persuaded him to let
many be ransomed. Among those executed was Muhammad's verba^182 l
antagonist al-Nadr b. al-Harith.^183
Although some Muslim sources imply that Muhammad received one-fifth
of the spoils (cf. Qur'an 8:42) after the raid to Nakhla or the battle of Badr,