We will next discuss various occasions when Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) stood in the defense of Islam:

Dueling Waleed bin ‘Utbah on the Occasion of Badr

On the occasion of Badr, before the armies engaged one another in battle, there were first duels that were fought between individuals.

From the side of the Quraish, three people came forward to duel; ‘Utbah bin Rabee‘ah, Shaibah bin Rabee‘ah, and Waleed bin ‘Utbah. They stepped forward and called out to the Muslims, requesting three opponents to fight.

In response to this challenge, three Sahaabah of the Ansaar stepped forward; Hazrat ‘Awf bin Haarith, his brother, Hazrat Mu‘awwiz bin Haarith, and Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Rawaahah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).

On seeing them, the disbelievers enquired, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are from the Ansaar.” The disbelievers responded, “It is not you that we wish to fight. We wish to fight our own people.”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus instructed these three Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to return to their rows, and instructed the following three Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to step forward and fight; Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Ubaidah bin Haarith (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Seeing them, the disbelievers were satisfied and said, “Yes, these are worthy adversaries.”

Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) faced Shaibah, Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) faced Waleed, and Hazrat ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) faced ‘Utbah. They then commenced the duels.

As for Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), then in just a single swing of the sword, they both killed their opponents and dispatched them to Jahannum.

As for Hazrat ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), then he was still engaged in combat with his opponent, ‘Utbah. Both of them were wounded, and ‘Utbah had dealt Hazrat ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) a fatal wound to his leg. Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus rushed to the aid of Hazrat ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and swiftly put an end to the life of ‘Utbah.

Thereafter, on the return from Badr, at a place named Safraa, Hazrat ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) succumbed to his injury and passed away, attaining martyrdom.

(Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah 5/95 , Seeratul Mustafa 2/76-78, Usdul Ghaabah 3/547)