The Holy Prophet’s (sa) Fervent Supplications on the Battlefield (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration)
Whilst mentioning these incidents from the Battle of Badr, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:
“The Holy Prophet (sa) addressed the Companions (ra) and said:
“‘There are some people among the army of the Quraish who have not come to participate in this campaign with pleasure; rather, they have only come along under the pressure of the chieftains of the Quraish. Otherwise, deep down they harbour no enmity to us. Similarly, there are also such people in this army, who in our time of hardship, dealt with us generously when we were in Mecca. It is our obligation to repay their benevolence. As such, if a Muslim subdues any such individual, he should not cause him any harm.’
“Among the first category of people, the Holy Prophet (sa) specifically mentioned the name of Abbas bin Abdil-Muttalib and in the second category of people, he mentioned the name of Abul-Bakhtari, and forbade their killing. However, the course of events took such an unavoidable turn that Abul-Bakhtari could not be spared from death. Nonetheless, prior to his death, he found out that the Holy Prophet (sa) had forbidden his killing. After saying this to the Companions (ra), the Holy Prophet (sa) retired to his tent, and became engaged in supplications once again. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) also accompanied him, and a party of the Ansarunder the command of Saad (ra) bin Muaz were stationed around the tent to stand guard. After a short time, there was an uproar in the field of battle, which indicated that the Quraish had launched a full attack. At that time, the Holy Prophet (sa) was weeping profusely and supplicating before God with his hands extended. He would say with extreme anguish:
اللّٰهُمَّ إنِّيْ أَنْشُدُكَ عَهْدَكَ وَوَعْدَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ تُهْلِكْ هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ لاَ تُعْبَدُ فِي الأَرْضِ
“‘O My God! Fulfil Your promises. O My Master! If today, this party of Muslims is destroyed in the field of battle, there shall remain none who would worship You on the face of this earth.’
“At this time, the Holy Prophet (sa) was in a state of such agony, that sometimes he would fall into prostration, and at times he would stand up to call upon God. The mantle of the Holy Prophet (sa) would repeatedly fall from his back, and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would pick it up and place it on the Holy Prophet (sa) again and again. Hazrat Ali (ra) relates that during the course of battle, whenever the Holy Prophet (sa) would come to mind, he would run towards his tent, but whenever he went there, he found the Holy Prophet (sa) weeping in prostration. He also heard that the Holy Prophet (sa) would constantly repeat the words:
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ
“‘O My Ever-Living God! O My Life-Giving Master!’
“Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was greatly disturbed by this state of the Holy Prophet (sa), and at times would spontaneously say, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for your sake. Do not worry, Allah shall definitely fulfil His promises.’ However, the Holy Prophet (sa) remained constantly engaged in his supplications, weeping and wailing, according to the following proverb:
ہر كہ عارف ہر تراست ترساں تر
“Meaning: ‘The wiser a saint, the greater his fear.’”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 360-261)