Mohammed was essentially a hunted prophet, because his monotheists belief severely threatened, the economic and social structure of the polytheistic region. Most of the battles that would ensue between Mohammed´s followers and the Idolaters, while Mohammed was alive, were defensive in nature for Mohammed´s and his followers.
Abu Bakr eventually became a convert but he was not of Mohammed´s family. He becomes the ultimate Politian of the trio and Islam. While Mohammed was alive, Abu Bakr acted as more of the spiritual arm of Islam, leading prayers and such. But after Mohammed´s death, the true politician that Abu Bakr was, came to light. Mohammed had indicated his desired for Ali, to be his successor, but even on Mohammed´s death bed Abu Bakr was arranging a bloodless coup to take over the leadership of Islam. He was after the power and ultimately the money or financial rewards that would come from the expansion of Islam throughout Arabia and the Middle East. During Mohammed´s life, Islam experience its regional (Mecca and Medina region) growth, but after his death Abu Bakr expanded Islam throughout Arabia and much of the Middle East, over a period of only 12 yrs (This was a very rapid expansion, often ,via military intervention). The financial rewards came from, captured territories in his name, wartime booty, and imposed taxes. Abu Bakr was the 1st Caliph, and ensures his cronies were the next 2 Caliphs. He was the father of the Sunnis Sect of Islam, and his top government appointees become the wealthiest people in the Middle East. But the Ideology of Islam was lost under his leadership, and his Islamic followers became greedy, seeking financial reward more than anything, in the name of Islam. The religious Ideals of Mohammed were all but gone, when Ali was convinced to take over and right the Islamic ship as the 4th Caliph. But righting the ship would lead to major civil wars within Islam, between Ali and his faithful and the rich and powerful Muslims trying to cling to wealth and power in the name of Islam and Allah. Hundreds of Thousands would perish in the ensuing civil wars, of Muslims against Muslims, led by Ali. The internal Muslim conflicts continue, to this day, between Sunnis and Shiites.
This wraps up a brief history of Islam, but before we move on, we need to return to some of Ali´s history while Mohammed was alive. While Mohammed was alive his followers only fought about 5 major battles (major in the sense of a few hundred total combatants except 1 latter battle which was in the 1,000´s). Two battles in particular, offer clues to the first 2 horsemen.
From Section – The Battles of Islam
These battles were inevitable. The Quraysh of Makkah believed that if all Arabs accepted Islam, it would mean to them (the Quraysh) the loss of all the pilgrim revenues, and the loss of their privileges which they enjoyed as the guardians of the idols. A triumph of Islam was correctly foreseen by them as a death blow to privilege. It was this fear, the fear of the loss of economic and political power and prestige that precipitated war between them and the Muslims.
From Section – The Battle of Badr
The battle of Badr was fought in the second year of Hijra, on the 17th of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (March 15, 624). The Makkan army moved out of its camp early in the morning to meet the Muslims. The two armies ranged themselves in battle formation. The Prophet took a bow in his hand and walked between the lines dressing the rows of the Muslims. His last act before the battle began, was to pray to God to grant victory to His humble slaves.
The battle began in the traditional Arab manner of warfare in which a champion of one side rode or stepped out of his line, and challenged the heroes of the enemy to meet him in single combat. This gave him an opportunity to win personal glory by showing his own bravery, his strength and his skills at horsemanship. The two armies often served as a kind of chorus for combats between a few boastful heroes. After these initial duels, it was customary for the two armies to attack each other, and to engage in hand-to-hand fighting.
Sir William Muir
The two brothers, Shaiba and Otba, and Walid, the son of Otba, advanced into the space between the armies, and defied three champions from the army of Mohammed to meet them singly. Mohammed turning to his kinsmen, said: “Ye, sons of Hashim! Arise and fight, according to your right.”
Then Hamza, Obeida, and Ali, the uncle and cousins of the Prophet, went forth. Hamza wore an ostrich feather in his breast, and a white plume distinguished the helmet of Ali. Then Otba called on his son, Walid, “Arise and fight.” So Walid stepped forth and Ali came out against him. They were the youngest of the six. The combat was short; Walid fell mortally wounded by the sword of Ali.
(The Life of Mohammed, London, 1877)
F. E. Peters
Badr was a Muslim triumph, as total as it was unexpected; the Muslims lost 14 men and the Quraysh from 50 to 70, including their leader, Abu Jahl. It was an immense psychological victory and there was plentiful booty for the economically distressed Emigrants. This was no mere raid, however. It pitted Muslim against non-Muslim in Holy War, and fathers against sons in civil strife. The Quraysh casualties were extraordinarily high, and since most of them had occurred among the chiefs, the leadership at Mecca was permanently crippled. (Allah's Commonwealth, 1973)
The leadership of the polytheists of Makkah was indeed permanently crippled at Badr. The hero responsible for this was Ali. He alone killed 22 Makkans, twelve of them being the leading members of the clan of Banu Umayya. The rest of the army of Islam killed another 27 pagans.
Among the spoils of the battle of Badr was a sword which was to become the most famous sword in the whole history of Islam. Its name was Dhul-Fiqar.
Badr was the first encounter, on the battle-field, between Islam and Heathenism. It was opened on the side of Islam, by Ali ibn Abi Talib, the young lion, and his victory was the signal of the triumph of Islam. All other battles of Islam followed the same pattern; Ali was the victor in every one of them
Washington Irving
Among the spoils of the battle of Badr was a famous sword of admirable temper called Dhul-Fiqar, or the Piercer. Mohammed ever afterwards bore it when in battle, and his son-in-law, Ali, inherited it at his death. (The Life of Mohammed)
While Washington Irving indicates the sword was given to Ali, upon Mohammed´s death, subsequent readings indicate, Ali, had and used that sword in all future battles. Muslim folklore is that the sword was given to Mohammed from the Angel Gabriel, but Historians explain it in a more realistic sense. Ali, took the sword from his first one-on one, battle confrontation kill. It is one of the most venerated items in Islamic History, appearing on flags, letterheads, jewelry, and even city gateways. It is the ultimate symbol of Islam.
From Section – The Battle of Uhud
In Uhud, friend and foe both beheld with their own eyes the fantastic deeds of Ali's heroism and chivalry, and his devotion to his master, Muhammad, the Messenger of God. Ali fought the battle of Uhud with the famous sword, Dhu'l-Fiqar.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq
The Prophet's sword was called Dhu'l-Fiqar. A traditionalist told me that I. Abu Najih said, ‘Someone called out in the battle of Uhud:
There is no sword but Dhu'l-Fiqar
And there is no hero like Ali.'
(The Life of the Messenger of God
In Ali's grip, Dhu'l-Fiqar was the lightning that struck and consumed paganism, idolatry and polytheism. But to Islam, it was the bringer of new hope, new vigor, new life, and honor, glory and victory. Commenting upon the events of Uhad, following the rout of the Muslims when the Prophet was beleaguered by his enemies, M. Shibli, the Indian historian, says:
continued in part 9
Abu Bakr eventually became a convert but he was not of Mohammed´s family. He becomes the ultimate Politian of the trio and Islam. While Mohammed was alive, Abu Bakr acted as more of the spiritual arm of Islam, leading prayers and such. But after Mohammed´s death, the true politician that Abu Bakr was, came to light. Mohammed had indicated his desired for Ali, to be his successor, but even on Mohammed´s death bed Abu Bakr was arranging a bloodless coup to take over the leadership of Islam. He was after the power and ultimately the money or financial rewards that would come from the expansion of Islam throughout Arabia and the Middle East. During Mohammed´s life, Islam experience its regional (Mecca and Medina region) growth, but after his death Abu Bakr expanded Islam throughout Arabia and much of the Middle East, over a period of only 12 yrs (This was a very rapid expansion, often ,via military intervention). The financial rewards came from, captured territories in his name, wartime booty, and imposed taxes. Abu Bakr was the 1st Caliph, and ensures his cronies were the next 2 Caliphs. He was the father of the Sunnis Sect of Islam, and his top government appointees become the wealthiest people in the Middle East. But the Ideology of Islam was lost under his leadership, and his Islamic followers became greedy, seeking financial reward more than anything, in the name of Islam. The religious Ideals of Mohammed were all but gone, when Ali was convinced to take over and right the Islamic ship as the 4th Caliph. But righting the ship would lead to major civil wars within Islam, between Ali and his faithful and the rich and powerful Muslims trying to cling to wealth and power in the name of Islam and Allah. Hundreds of Thousands would perish in the ensuing civil wars, of Muslims against Muslims, led by Ali. The internal Muslim conflicts continue, to this day, between Sunnis and Shiites.
This wraps up a brief history of Islam, but before we move on, we need to return to some of Ali´s history while Mohammed was alive. While Mohammed was alive his followers only fought about 5 major battles (major in the sense of a few hundred total combatants except 1 latter battle which was in the 1,000´s). Two battles in particular, offer clues to the first 2 horsemen.
From Section – The Battles of Islam
These battles were inevitable. The Quraysh of Makkah believed that if all Arabs accepted Islam, it would mean to them (the Quraysh) the loss of all the pilgrim revenues, and the loss of their privileges which they enjoyed as the guardians of the idols. A triumph of Islam was correctly foreseen by them as a death blow to privilege. It was this fear, the fear of the loss of economic and political power and prestige that precipitated war between them and the Muslims.
From Section – The Battle of Badr
The battle of Badr was fought in the second year of Hijra, on the 17th of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (March 15, 624). The Makkan army moved out of its camp early in the morning to meet the Muslims. The two armies ranged themselves in battle formation. The Prophet took a bow in his hand and walked between the lines dressing the rows of the Muslims. His last act before the battle began, was to pray to God to grant victory to His humble slaves.
The battle began in the traditional Arab manner of warfare in which a champion of one side rode or stepped out of his line, and challenged the heroes of the enemy to meet him in single combat. This gave him an opportunity to win personal glory by showing his own bravery, his strength and his skills at horsemanship. The two armies often served as a kind of chorus for combats between a few boastful heroes. After these initial duels, it was customary for the two armies to attack each other, and to engage in hand-to-hand fighting.
Sir William Muir
The two brothers, Shaiba and Otba, and Walid, the son of Otba, advanced into the space between the armies, and defied three champions from the army of Mohammed to meet them singly. Mohammed turning to his kinsmen, said: “Ye, sons of Hashim! Arise and fight, according to your right.”
Then Hamza, Obeida, and Ali, the uncle and cousins of the Prophet, went forth. Hamza wore an ostrich feather in his breast, and a white plume distinguished the helmet of Ali. Then Otba called on his son, Walid, “Arise and fight.” So Walid stepped forth and Ali came out against him. They were the youngest of the six. The combat was short; Walid fell mortally wounded by the sword of Ali.
(The Life of Mohammed, London, 1877)
F. E. Peters
Badr was a Muslim triumph, as total as it was unexpected; the Muslims lost 14 men and the Quraysh from 50 to 70, including their leader, Abu Jahl. It was an immense psychological victory and there was plentiful booty for the economically distressed Emigrants. This was no mere raid, however. It pitted Muslim against non-Muslim in Holy War, and fathers against sons in civil strife. The Quraysh casualties were extraordinarily high, and since most of them had occurred among the chiefs, the leadership at Mecca was permanently crippled. (Allah's Commonwealth, 1973)
The leadership of the polytheists of Makkah was indeed permanently crippled at Badr. The hero responsible for this was Ali. He alone killed 22 Makkans, twelve of them being the leading members of the clan of Banu Umayya. The rest of the army of Islam killed another 27 pagans.
Among the spoils of the battle of Badr was a sword which was to become the most famous sword in the whole history of Islam. Its name was Dhul-Fiqar.
Badr was the first encounter, on the battle-field, between Islam and Heathenism. It was opened on the side of Islam, by Ali ibn Abi Talib, the young lion, and his victory was the signal of the triumph of Islam. All other battles of Islam followed the same pattern; Ali was the victor in every one of them
Washington Irving
Among the spoils of the battle of Badr was a famous sword of admirable temper called Dhul-Fiqar, or the Piercer. Mohammed ever afterwards bore it when in battle, and his son-in-law, Ali, inherited it at his death. (The Life of Mohammed)
While Washington Irving indicates the sword was given to Ali, upon Mohammed´s death, subsequent readings indicate, Ali, had and used that sword in all future battles. Muslim folklore is that the sword was given to Mohammed from the Angel Gabriel, but Historians explain it in a more realistic sense. Ali, took the sword from his first one-on one, battle confrontation kill. It is one of the most venerated items in Islamic History, appearing on flags, letterheads, jewelry, and even city gateways. It is the ultimate symbol of Islam.
From Section – The Battle of Uhud
In Uhud, friend and foe both beheld with their own eyes the fantastic deeds of Ali's heroism and chivalry, and his devotion to his master, Muhammad, the Messenger of God. Ali fought the battle of Uhud with the famous sword, Dhu'l-Fiqar.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq
The Prophet's sword was called Dhu'l-Fiqar. A traditionalist told me that I. Abu Najih said, ‘Someone called out in the battle of Uhud:
There is no sword but Dhu'l-Fiqar
And there is no hero like Ali.'
(The Life of the Messenger of God
In Ali's grip, Dhu'l-Fiqar was the lightning that struck and consumed paganism, idolatry and polytheism. But to Islam, it was the bringer of new hope, new vigor, new life, and honor, glory and victory. Commenting upon the events of Uhad, following the rout of the Muslims when the Prophet was beleaguered by his enemies, M. Shibli, the Indian historian, says:
continued in part 9