We begin with the words of Allahﷻ:
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Meaning: "And verily Allah has helped you achieve victory in the battle of Badr, while you are in a weak state (because you are few in number and lack war equipment). Therefore, fear Allah, so that you will be grateful (for the victory)."
(Surah al-Imran: 123)
Abu Bakar al-Jazairi when interpreting this verse stated that: Allahﷻ warns the believers not to take protection from the infidels and hypocrites, and tells them that if they are patient and pious, their enemies' tricks will not harm them. Allahﷻ reminded them of two situations: one in which they were impatient and fearless until they were defeated, namely in the battle of Uhud, and the second in which they were patient and fearless until they gained victory and defeated their enemies, namely in the battle of Badr.
(See Aisar al-Tafasir, 1/370)
Brief Biography of Companion Ubaidah Bin al-Harith
In answering the above question his real name is Ubaidah رضي الله عنه Bin al-Harith Bin Mutallib Bin Abd Manaf Bin Qusai al-Qarshi al-Matlabi. Ubaidah رضي الله عنه bin Al-Harith bin Al-Mutalib mother is from Bani Thaqif. He was one of the earliest individuals to embrace Islam. He is 10 years older than Rasulullahﷺ. He migrated to Yathrib with his brothers al-Thufail and Husain.
The Messenger of Allah sent Ubaidah رضي الله عنه bin Al-Harith bin Al-Mutalib with sixty emigrants who rode on Syawal 1 Hijrah corresponding to April 623 AD. They came across Abu Sufian who brought with him two hundred soldiers in Batni Rabigh. Both sides exchanged arrows but there was no clash. In this operation, two of Abu Sufian's soldiers joined the Muslims. They are Al-Miqdad bin Amru Al-Bahrani and Utbah bin Ghazwan Al-Mazini. These people have actually converted to Islam but went out with the infidels to get a chance to connect with the Muslims. The flag carried by Ubaidah was white and held by Mistah Ibnu Usasa رضي الله عنه bin Abd Al-Mutalib bin Abd Manaf.
On the side of Rasulullahﷺ, he is one of the 4 noble men who have a position. Therefore, Rasulullahﷺ ordered him to lead 60 riders from the group of Muhajirin and gave him a banner. This was the first flag to be flown in Islam. They fought with Quraysh led by Abu Sufyan, in a place called Thaniyah al-Marrah which was the first battle that took place in Islam.
(see; Siyar a’lam al-Nubala, 1/256)
On the day of the battle of Badr, 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah and his brother Shaibah bin Rabi'ah, together with Waleed bin 'Utbah, went out to compete in the battle. So went out to face them: Ubaidah رضي الله عنه bin al-Harith, Hamzahرضي الله عنه bin Abdul Muttalib, and Ali رضي الله عنه bin Abi Talib on the order of Rasulullahﷺ.
It is narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud that 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah came and was followed by his son and brother, then he shouted; Who will fight? Then some young Ansar welcomed him. Then he said, who are you? then they told him, then he said, we don't need you, we only want our uncle's children, then Rasulullahﷺ said:
قُم يا حَمزةُ قُم يا عليُّ قم يا عُبَيْدةُ فأقبلَ حمزةُ إلى عُتبةَ وأقبلتُ إلى شَيبةَ واختلفَ بينَ عُبَيْدةَ والوليدِ ضربتانِ فأثخنَ كلُّ واحدٍ منهما صاحبَهُ ثمَّ ملنا على الوليدِ فقَتلناهُ واحتمَلنا عُبَيْدةَ
It means: "Stand up, O Hamzah, stand up, O Ali, stand up, O 'Ubaidah bin al-Harith! Then Hamzah رضي الله عنه faced 'Utbah and I faced Shaibah and 'Ubaidahرضي الله عنه and al-Walid took turns in the fight. Each injures and weakens the opponent. Then we came to Walid and we killed him and we took 'Ubaidah."
Narrated by Abu Dawud (2665)
This battle was the beginning of infamy for the polytheists, where three leaders of the Quraysh and the best of their troops and leaders were killed early in the battle. This greatly affected their psychology, making them depressed towards Muslims who at that time were in the worst situation. However, not long after that, Allahﷻ gave victory to His Messenger and the Muslims on the day of the battle of Badr.
Ubaidah Bin al-Harith رضي الله عنه died on the last 10 days of Ramadan in the 2nd year of Hijrah in al-Safra' due to his injuries in the battle. His martyrdom has been narrated in a hadith narrated by al-Zuhri who said:
لَّمَ قالَ: ألستُ شَهيدًا يا رَسولَ اللهِ، قالَ: «بَلَى»
Meaning: When they brought Ubaidah to Rasulullahﷺ he asked: Am I a martyr, O Rasulullahﷺ. Rasulullahﷺ replied: Yes
Riwayat Hakim in al-Mustadrak (4932)
Thus we say that Rasulullahﷺ's companion named 'Ubaidah Bin Harith رضي الله عنه is a companion who made great sacrifices in opposing the enemy in order to defend Islam and he is among the 14 companions who were martyred in the Battle of Badr.
May Allah ﷻ give us a clear understanding in carrying out all his commands and we end with a prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ ، مَا عَلِمْنَا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ ، مَا عَلِمْنَا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الجَنَّةَ وَمَا قرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَولٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ ، وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنَا خَيْرًا
It means: "O Allah, we ask You for all the good that is hastened or delayed, as well as what we know and what we do not know. We seek refuge in You from all evil, both hastened and delayed, as well as what we know and what we do not know. Ya Allah, we truly ask You for the goodness that Your servant and Rasulullahﷺ asked You for and we seek refuge in You from what Your servant and Rasulullahﷺ asked for protection. Ya Allah, we ask you for heaven and what brings us closer to it, both in speech and deed. And we seek refuge in You from Hellfire and what brings us closer to it, whether in the form of speech or deed. And we ask You for all the destinies that You decide are good for us."
It means: "O Allah, we ask You for all the good that is hastened or delayed, as well as what we know and what we do not know. We seek refuge in You from all evil, both hastened and delayed, as well as what we know and what we do not know. Ya Allah, we truly ask You for the goodness that Your servant and Rasulullahﷺ asked You for and we seek refuge in You from what Your servant and prophet asked for protection. Ya Allah, we ask you for heaven and what brings us closer to it, both in speech and deed. And we seek refuge in You from Hellfire and what brings us closer to it, whether in the form of speech or deed. And we ask You for all the destinies that You decide are good for us."
