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Here stands the Stele of the Fourteen Martyrs — Shuhada Badr — erected to commemorate the fourteen companions who shed their blood in the year 2 of the Hijra (17 Ramadan / 13 March 624 CE) so that Islam might survive its first real military test.
The great first
Badr was the first great battle of Islam. Not a mere skirmish: a decisive confrontation between 313 poorly equipped Muslims and a Quraysh army of more than 1,000 men, heavily armed and trained.
Allah Himself called this day "Yawm al-Furqan" — The Day of the Criterion:
> "If you believe in Allah and in what We sent down upon Our Servant on the Day of the Criterion (Yawm al-Furqan), the day the two groups met."
Quran 8:41 (Surah Al-Anfal)
The 14 names engraved in eternity
Fourteen pure souls rose that day to their Lord — 6 Muhajirun (emigrants from Makkah) and 8 Ansar (from Madinah):
The 6 Muhajirun:
1. 'Ubaydah ibn al-Harith ibn al-Muttalib رضي الله عنه, relative of the Prophet ﷺ (Banu al-Muttalib) 2. 'Umayr ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه — brother of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas 3. Dhul-Shimalayn 'Umayr ibn 'Abd 'Amr al-Khuza'i رضي الله عنه 4. 'Aqil ibn al-Bukayr رضي الله عنه 5. Mihja' mawla 'Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه — first Muslim martyr of Badr 6. Safwan ibn Wahb (Ibn Bayda') رضي الله عنهThe 8 Ansar:
7. Sa'd ibn Khaythamah رضي الله عنه 8. Mubashshir ibn 'Abd al-Mundhir رضي الله عنه 9. Yazid ibn al-Harith ibn Fus-hum رضي الله عنه 10. 'Umayr ibn al-Humam al-Ansari رضي الله عنه 11. Rafi' ibn al-Mu'alla رضي الله عنه 12. Harithah ibn Suraqah رضي الله عنه 13. 'Awf ibn al-Harith رضي الله عنه (brother of Mu'awwadh, son of Afra') 14. Mu'awwadh ibn al-Harith رضي الله عنه (brother of 'Awf, son of Afra')The words of the martyr 'Umayr ibn al-Humam رضي الله عنه
When the enemy army drew near, the Prophet ﷺ spoke these overwhelming words:
> "Rise up to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth!"
'Umayr ibn al-Humam رضي الله عنه asked: "O Messenger of Allah, a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth?" "Yes." "Bakhin bakhin!" The Prophet ﷺ said to him: "You are among its people." He then took some dates out of his quiver, began to eat them, then said:
> "If I live until I finish eating these dates, that is a very long life!"
He threw away the dates and fought until he fell a martyr.
Sahih Muslim no. 1901
The supreme status of the fighters of Badr
The Prophet ﷺ said about all those who fought at Badr:
> "How do you know? Perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said: 'Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.'"
Sahih al-Bukhari no. 3007 · Sahih Muslim no. 2494
This promise of Allah applies to the 313 fighters of Badr — a status that is unique in the whole Muslim community.