How many Muslims fought at the Battle of Badr, according to the common figure? The answer is 313. This is the standard figure given for Muhammad’s Muslim force at Badr in 2 AH, when the early Muslim community of Medina confronted a much larger Quraysh army near the wells of Badr.
Historical accounts are not perfectly uniform. Some estimates place the Muslim force between 313 and 317 men, but 313 became the conventional number in Islamic historical writing and general reference works. The force included both the Muhajirun, Muslims who had migrated from Mecca, and the Ansar, their supporters from Medina.
The small army was also lightly equipped compared with the opposing Meccan force. Traditional accounts describe approximately 70 camels and only two horses, with men sharing mounts. The Quraysh force is commonly estimated at roughly 1,000 fighters, making the Muslim victory especially significant in the story of early Islam.
A common mix-up is confusing the Muslim total with the number of Quraysh troops or with the battle’s casualties. Fourteen Muslims were traditionally reported killed, while about 70 Meccans died and another 70 were taken prisoner.