The Prophet (s.a.w.) Threw Gravel at the Pagans, Blinding Them

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Dr. Muhammad Muswthafa al-Badawi said, during the Battle of Badr, before that, in Makkah and after that, at Hunayn, the Prophet (s.a.w.) threw gravel or pebbles at the pagans, hitting them individually in their eyes.  Allah (s.w.t.) Addresses him thus in the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنفَال

فَلَمۡ تَقۡتُلُوهُمۡ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ إِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ‌ۚ ... (١٧) 

It is not you who slew them; it was Allah: when you threw (a handful of dust) it was not your act, but Allah’s ... (Surah al-Anfal:17) 

This is because it is humanly impossible to achieve such a feat. 

On the first occasion, in Makkah, the elders of Quraysh met in the Hijr and swore to each other by Lat, ‘Uzzah, Manat, Na’ilah, and Isaf that as soon as they saw Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) they would rise to him as one man and part not from him until they had killed him.  Sayyidatina Fathimah az-Zahrah (r.a.) overheard this.  She hastened home weeping, and entered upon the Prophet (s.a.w.) saying, “There were the elders of your people promising each other that as soon as they saw you, they would rise as one man to your blood!” 

“My child,” he said, “bring me some water for my ablutions!”  He performed his ablutions then headed towards the mosque. 

When they saw him, they said, “Here he is!  Here he is!” but they lowered their gazes, hung their chins on their chests, did not look at him, nor did any of them rise toward him.  The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) approached until he stood over them.  He took a handful of dust and saying, “Befouled be the faces!” threw it at them.  Not one of those who were hit by it on that day escaped being killed at Badr.  This was recorded by Imam ibn Hibban (r.a.). 

On the day of Badr, he took a handful of pebbles and threw it at the pagans saying, “Befouled be the faces!”  Allah (s.w.t.) Caused these to hit most of the pagans in the eyes, with a sound as if pebbles were falling into a pan.  This is when their defeat began.  This is found in Imam Abu al-Qasim Sulayman ibn Ayyub ath-Thabarani’s (r.a.) al-Mu’jam al-Kabir.  It was also recorded by Shaykh Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham al-Baswri (r.a.). 

As for the day of Hunayn, when the Muslims were taken by surprise by the enemy and some chaos ensued, the Prophet (s.a.w.) found himself on his own, on his mule.  Sayyidina Salamah ibn al-Akwa’ (r.a.) recounted how he saw the Prophet (s.a.w.) climb down from his mule, pick up a handful of dust, then throw it in the pagan’s faces saying, “Befouled be the faces!”  Their eyes were filled with dust, and they retreated in disarray.  This is found in Swahih Muslim.