Al-Aqanqal

Al-Aqanqal, also known as Udwatul Quswa, is a large hill where the Quraysh camp was based during the Battle of Badr. It is on the western side of the Yalyal valley.

• At midnight, between Thursday and Friday, the Quraysh army marched into Badr. It had been raining the previous day and they struggled to move their horses and camels up the hill of al-Aqanqal. After they descended from al-Aqanqal, the Makkans set up another camp inside the valley.
• When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw them coming down the hill into the valley he said, “Oh, Allah! This is the Quraysh who have come with their vanity and their pride, contending with You and calling Your Messenger a liar. Oh, Allah! Grant me the victory which You promised me. Oh, Allah! Destroy them on this morning.”

• While they rested, the Quraysh sent out a scout called Umayr ibn Wahb to survey the Muslim lines. Umayr reported that the Muslim army was small, and there were no other reinforcements who might join the battle.
• However, he also predicted extremely heavy Qurayshi casualties in the event of an attack. This further demoralised the Quraysh, as Arab battles were traditionally low-casualty affairs. and set off another round of bickering among the Qurayshi leadership. However, according to Arab traditions Abu Jahal quashed the remaining dissent by appealing to the Quraysh’s sense of honour and demanding that they fulfil their blood vengeance.

References: When the Moon Split – Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Muhammad (s.a.w.) the Last Prophet – Moulana Sayyed Hasan Ali Nadwi, The Life of Muhammad  (s.a.w) – Tahia Al-Ismail, Qalam Seerah notes – Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda