Objection of not participating in the Battle of Badr

Objection for fleeing from the Battle of Uhud
November 23, 2015
Introduction
November 23, 2015

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Objection of not participating in the Battle of Badr

 

The opposition raise this objection with regards to the third Khalifah, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, that in Islam the Battle of Badr has great virtue and importance. Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu on the other hand did not participate in it. In this way, he was deprived of the virtues of the Battle of Badr.

 

Answer

On the occasion of the Battle of Badr, Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha — the daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the wife of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu — was ill. When Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam went out for the Battle of Badr with the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu remained behind in Madinah on the instruction of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to look after his wife, Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha. Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha passed away in this time. When Sayyidina Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu brought the good news of the victory at Badr to Madinah, the people were completing the burial of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha.

Yet when Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam divided the booty among the victors of Badr, he gave an equal share to Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu and he included him in its virtue. In light of this, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu is counted among the participants of Badr. Two references from the biographical accounts and works of history are presented here:

 

عن عبد الله بن مكنف بن حارثة الانصاري قال لما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الى بدر خلف عثمان على ابتنه رقية وكانت مريضة فماتت رضي الله عنها يوم قدم زيد بن حارثة المدينة بشيرا بما فتح الله على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ببدر وضرب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعثمان بسهمه واجره في بدر فكان كمن شهدها

 

‘Abdullah ibn Miknaf ibn Harithah al Ansari narrates: “When Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left for Badr, he left ‘Uthman to take care of his daughter, Ruqayyah, who was ill. She passed away, may Allah be pleased with her, the day Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu entered Madinah to convey the good news of the victory at Badr. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave ‘Uthman a share of the spoils and said he would receive the same reward as those who participated in it. Thus he was equal to those who participated in it.[1]

 

عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه تخلف على امراته رقية بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكانت مريضة فتوفيت وجائت البشرى بالفتح حين دفنت فضرب له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بسهمه من الغنيمة وباجره من المشهد فهو بدري

 

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu remained behind to tend to his wife Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha, the daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who was ill. She passed away (on account of her illness). The good news of the victory arrived while she was being buried. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave him a share of the spoils and the reward f one who participated (in Badr), thus he is also a Badri.[2]

 

Therefore, although Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu did not personally participate in the Battle of Badr, but in accordance to the instruction of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he was not deprived of the virtues of Badr and Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave him of the spoils of Badr and said that he will get the reward of those who participated in Badr as well.

 

Similitude between Sayyidina ‘Uthman and Sayyidina ‘Ali

We would wish to inform the critics that the non-participation of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the Battle of Badr is the same as the non-participation of Sayyidina ‘Ali al Murtada radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the Battle of Tabuk. Sayyidina ‘Ali al Murtada radiya Llahu ‘anhu also stayed behind in Madinah according to the instruction of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and did not participate in the Battle of Tabuk. Similarly, in accordance to the instruction of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu could not participate in the Battle of Badr, and was instructed to remain behind to look after the daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

The same ruling applies to both of these incidents and it is not correct to criticise any of them for not participating in the respective battles. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had the right to instruct his sons-in-law with regards to household affairs, whether it was the Battle of Badr or the Battle of Tabuk.

Moreover, study our books, listed hereunder, for further details on this issue, where we have discussed this issue at length:

  1. Banat Arba’ah p. 194 – p. 197
  2. Ruhama’ Baynahum (‘Uthmani section) p. 34, 35

 

NEXT⇒ Objection for fleeing from the Battle of Uhud


[1]Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d vol. 3 pg. 38

[2]Jawami’ al Sirah of Ibn Hazm al Andalusi pg. 115