The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم sent ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah رضي الله عنه and Zayd bin Harithah رضي الله عنه were despatched to Madinah, to convey the great news of victory of the Muslims at Badr to those who were left behind there.

After seeing Zayd bin Harithah ride Qaswah, the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ; the Jews and hypocrites of Madinah had spread the rumor that the Messenger of
Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was killed that is why Zayd bin Harithah رضي الله عنهwas riding his she-camel.

The two messengers sent by Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم broke the happy news of victory to the Muslims, and also gave accurate account of the battle to them who had been waiting anxiously. They immediately started acclaiming Allah’s greatness and praise loudly. They went out of Madinah to receive the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Sahabah (Companions). Seventy Quraysh were killed in the battle and an equal number was taken prisoner. Many prominent Quraysh chiefs were among the killed and the captives.

Usamah bin Zayd رضي الله عنه narrated that they received the news of the victory at Badr shortly after Ruqayyah bint Muhammad رضى الله عنها, the dauhgter of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the wife of ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan رضي الله عنه was buried. She had been terminally ill and the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمhad asked ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan to stay in Madinah to look after her.

Before leaving the scene of the battle, there was a little confusion about the distribution of the trophies of war (Material won in war) among the participants of the battle. Until that time there was no fixed rule for their distribution. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم deferred any solution till he receives a Wahi (Message from Allah) on the issue.
At that time, the following Ayah (Verse) was revealed:

On their way back to Madinah, at a large sand hill, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم divided the spoils equally among the fighters after he had taken Al-Khums (one-fifth). When they reached As-Safra", he ordered that two of the prisoners should be killed. They were Nadr bin Harith and ‘Uqbah bin Abi Mu'it, because they had persecuted the Muslims in Makkah, and harbored deep hatred towards Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. In a nutshell, they were criminals of war in modern terminology, and their execution was an awesome lesson to oppressors. ‘Uqbah forgot his pride and cried out, "Who will look after my children O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم answered, "The fire (of Hell). [Sunan Abu Dawud]" Did ‘Uqbah forgot the day when he had thrown the entrails of a camel onto the head of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was prostrating himself in prayer, and Fatimah رضى الله عنها had come and washed it off him? He had also strangled the the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم with his cloak if it had not been for Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to intervene and release the the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The heads of both criminals were struck off by ‘Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه.

People of Madinah came outside Madinah to receive the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the victorious Muslim army.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم entered Madinah as a victorious general who by the Grace of Allah (God) achieved the impossible, defeating a well armed army three times their own numbers. Seeing this, a large number of the people of Madinah accepted Islam.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed Muslims to treat the prisoners well. His Sahabah (Companions) رضي الله عنهم used to give the captives their own bread (the more valued part of the meal) and keep the dates for themselves.

Prisoners of war constituted a problem awaiting resolution because it was a new phenomenon in the history of Islam. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم consulted Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and ‘Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه as to what he should do with the prisoners. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه suggested that he should ransom them, as they were their relatives, and this money would give Muslims strength against the Quraysh of Makkah. Also, Allah could guide them to Islam by the good behavior of Muslims. ‘Umar رضي الله عنهadvised killing them, saying, because they were the champions of Kufr (disbelief)." The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم preferred Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه’s suggestion to that of ‘Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه’s. The following day, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said that a Qur’anic verse had been revealed rebuking them for taking ransom from the captives rather than slaying them:

The previous Divine ordainment went as follows,

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ

So, when you meet (in fight-Jihad in Allah's Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives).Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them wihtout ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the ware lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in ccarrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam and are saved from the punishmetn in the Hell-fire or at least come undr your prtection], but if it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certinly have punished them (without you). But (he lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost. Surah (Chapter) Muhammad (Muhammad صلى الله عليه) 47:4

It allowed a window of permission to take ransom. The ransom for the prisoners ranged between 4000 and 1000 Dirhams in accordance with the captive’s financial situation. Another form of ransom assumed an educational dimension; most of the people of Makkah, unlike the people of Madinah, were literate and so each prisoner who could not afford the ransom was entrusted with ten children to teach them the art of writing and reading. Once the child had been proficient enough, the instructor would be set free. Another clan of prisoners were released un-ransomed on grounds of being poor. Zaynab رضى الله عنها, eldest daughter of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad , paid the ransom of her husband Abul-‘As with a necklace, which was given to her by her mother Khadijah رضى الله عنها at the time of her wedding. Muslims released her prisoner and returned the necklace as they had seen the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad getting emotional after seeing his beloved wife's necklace. One condition was set that Abul-‘As would allow Zaynab رضى الله عنها to migrate to Madinah, which he actually did.

Suhayl bin ‘Amr was one of the Quraysh captives. He was an eloquent orator who used this gift to spread venom against Muslims. ‘Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه suggested that they pull out his front teeth to disable him from speaking, but the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم turned down his suggestion for fear of Allah’s wrath on the Day of Resurrection.

Sa‘d bin An-Nu‘man رضي الله عنه, a pilgrim of 'Umrah (Smaller Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah) who was held captive in Makkah, was released in return for setting Abu Sufyan’s son, a captive, free.