The Contribution Of The Archers Squad To The Battle:
The archers squad whom the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) located on the Archers Mountain, had the upper hand in administering the war activities to go in favour of the Muslim army.
The Makkan horsemen — commanded by Khalid bin Al-Waleed, supported by Abu ‘Amir Al-Fâsiq —had for three times attacked the left wing of the Muslim army with the aim of crushing it and then infiltrating into the rear to create a sort of confusion and disorder in the ranks of the Muslims and subsequently inflict heavy defeat on them. But thanks to the dexterity and great efforts of the archers, the three assaults were thwarted.
War activities went on and on fiercely with the Muslims in full command of the whole military developments until the idolaters finally staggered and retreated, leaving all motives of alleged pride, and affected dignity in oblivion, and their standard trodden by the feet of the fighters with none ever courageous enough to approach it. It seemed as if the three thousand idolaters had been fighting thirty thousand Muslims and not merely several hundreds.
Ibn Ishaq said: “Then Allah sent down His Help unto the Muslims and verified His Promise to them. They chased the idolaters and evacuated them from their camp. No doubt it was a certain defeat.”
In a version by ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair that his father had said: “By Allah, I was watching the servants of Hind bint ‘Utbah and her women friends fleeing with their garments gathered up. No one was there to prevent us from capturing them.”
In another version by Al-Barâ’ bin ‘Azib — mentioned in Sahih Al-Bukhâri — he said: “When we fought them, they fled, and their women could be seen fleeing in the mountains with their anklets and legs revealed.” (Al-Bukhari 2/579)
The Muslims pursued the enemies putting them to sword and collecting the spoils.
The Archers' Fatal Mistake:
While the small army of Islam were recording the second absolute and clear victory over the Makkans — which was no less in splendour and glory than the first one at Badr — the majority of the archers on the mountainside committed a fatal mistake that turned the whole situation upside down, and constituted a source of heavy losses amongst the Muslims. It has almost brought about the murder of the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam), and left a very bad impression on the fame and dignity they deservedly earned at Badr Battle.
We have already spoken about the positive orders given to the archers to hold on to their position whatever the course of the main engagement. In spite of those strict orders, and their leader’s —‘Abdullah bin Jubair (Radhi Allahu Anhu) — warning, forty archers deserted their posts, enticed by the too soon roar of victory as well as worldly avarice for the spoils of war. (Al-Bukhari 1/426)
The others, however, nine in number and ‘Abdullah, their leader, decided to abide by the Prophet’s order and stay where they were until they were given leave or killed to the last.
Consequently the cleft was left inadequately defended.
The shrewd Khalid bin Al-Waleed seized this golden opportunity to turn swiftly round to the rear of the Muslim army and encompass them. Exterminating Ibn Jubair and his group, they fell promptly upon the rear of the Muslims and his horsemen uttered a shout that signalled the new military developments. The polytheists returned once again to counterattack the Muslims. An idolist woman — called ‘Umra bint ‘Alqama Al-Harithiyah — rushed to the lying-on-earth standard, picked it up and hoisted it. The idolaters gathered together around the standard and called out unto one another till they encircled the Muslims and stoodfast to fight again.
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