Visit Arabia
Here, brother, is the Mountain of Angels (Jabal al-Mala'ikah) — the hill from which, according to tradition, the angels came down by the thousand to fight alongside the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims on the day of Badr.
The angels come down
During the battle, while the Muslims were overwhelmingly outnumbered, Allah sent His invisible armies:
> "When you were asking help of your Lord and He answered you at once: 'I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, following one another.'"
Quran 8:9
> "I am with you: so strengthen the believers. I will cast terror into the hearts of the disbelievers."
Quran 8:12
> "Yes! If you remain patient and fear Allah, and they [your enemies] come upon you at once, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels bearing marks of distinction."
Quran 3:125
The testimony of the fighters of Badr
Several companions reported having seen or heard the angels during the battle.
Ibn 'Abbas رضي الله عنهما reports that an Ansari companion was pursuing a Quraysh enemy. Suddenly, he heard above him the crack of a whip and the voice of a horseman saying: "Forward, O Hayzum!"
He looked at the enemy in front of him: the man had fallen flat on his back, his nose broken and his face split as if by the lash of a whip.
The companion ran to the Prophet ﷺ to tell him. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
> "You have spoken the truth. That was help from the third heaven."
Sahih Muslim no. 1763
The appearance of Jibreel عليه السلام
According to several accounts of the Sirah, Jibreel عليه السلام himself came down on the day of Badr, at the head of the angels.
The Prophet ﷺ said on the day of Badr:
> "This is Jibreel holding the head of his horse, on which are the weapons of war."
Sahih al-Bukhari no. 3995
The unique rank of the Badriyyun
Jibreel عليه السلام came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him: "How do you regard the people of Badr among you?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied: "Among the best of the Muslims" (or words to that effect).
Jibreel said: "And likewise those among the angels who took part in Badr."
Sahih al-Bukhari no. 3992
Why visit this mountain
When you stand before Jabal al-Mala'ikah, brother, raise your eyes and reflect:
- It is here that a thousand angels came down to fight alongside the Muslims
- It is here that Jibreel عليه السلام himself took part in the battle
- It is here that Allah made firm His religion at its most fragile moment
- It is here that angels and men fought together for the first time in the history of Islam