The Meccans fear the growing influence of the Muslims, due to the hospitality Muhammad has received in Medina, and thus contrive to safeguard their trade routes by eliminating the religion of Islam.

The Muslims of Medina are aware of such activities and begin to make preparations for self-defense.

In 624, Abu Sufyan is the appointed leader of a large merchant caravan carrying a fortune of the Quraysh's goods to Syria for trade.

The caravan is escorted by a force of around forty or fifty soldiers.

Muhammad, having learned that the caravan will pass close to Medina en route to Syria, organizes a Muslim force of three hundred men to intercept it and repossess the goods that the Quraysh had stolen from the Muslims due to their absence in Mecca.

Muhammad fills the wells along its route with sand in order to lure Abu Sufyan into battle.

Around this time, it is related that God revealed to Muhammad that his people were now given permission to go after those who had oppressed them, driven them from their homes (in Mecca) and confiscated their property (some of which the Quraysh put on this same caravan).

However, the Muslim contingent Muhammad had assembled fails to intercept the caravan.

They arrive after the caravan has already passed by Medina.

Abu Sufyan had learned of the Muslims plan from scouts he had deployed, and in response, had sent a crier to Mecca to rally the Quraysh to arms against the Muslims.