The Battle of Badr
In January of 623 Muhammad dispatched Ubaydah ibn al-Harith (Obeida), the son of Muhammad's uncle Harith ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, to attack an enemy caravan (belonging to the persecutors of the first Muslims) passing along the Syria-to-Mecca trade route. As the caravan (led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb) was watering in the valley of Rabigh, Muhammad's men fired volleys of arrows from a distance but did not inflict any damage.[15] Obeida was given the honour of "he who shot the first arrow for Islam" as Abu Sufyan ibn Harb altered course to flee the attack. In retaliation for this attack Abu Sufyan ibn Harb requested an armed force from Mecca .[16]
Throughout the winter and spring of 623 other raiding parties were sent by Muhammad from Medina
[for more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr]
Muhammad's agreement with the Jewish tribes soon broke down, as the Jews would not accept Muhammad's claims to prophethood or his growing influence. After his victory at Badr, Muhammad besieged and conquered the tribe of the Banu Qaynuqa, that had been involved in a tribal feud and adamantly refused to convert to Islam or keep peace with the Muslims. Because of the intercession of Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy and because it was the first incident with the tribes, Muhammad spared the tribe's lives and expelled them from the city.
