Battle of Uhud

Introduction
The news of the disaster at Badr in which a number of noble men from the tribes of Quraish had fallen and the return of the survivors to Makkah in a complete state of confusion and disorder was met with a lukewarm reception and despair that completely bewildered the Quraish. It had proved an unimaginable catastrophe for them. All those whose fathers, sons or brothers had been killed at Badr, met Abu Sufyan and others who had merchandise in the caravan which was brought back safely to Makkah. It was agreed to set aside the profits of the caravan in order to support in preparing themselves for a new war against the Muslims. The poets, as usual, began inciting the people with their songs of vengeance. To the pagan Arabs, the shedding of the blood of their tribesmen necessitated an effort to avenge those killed in order to vindicate their loss and honour. A well-equipped army set out from Makkah to fight the Prophet Muhammad and his companions in the middle of Shawwal, 3 A.H. The Quraish had mustered an army of three thousand soldiers consisting of their own warriors and others from surrounding tribes that agreed to join them. There was a camel for each man for the journey, and 200 horses to form a cavalry force in the battle. Their women went with them riding their own camels in order to stir their valour and prevent them from retreat. The noble men of Quraish also took their wives with them. The army advanced in small groups and camped near the gates of Madinah. The Prophet's plan was to remain in the city, leaving the invaders alone and to fight only when they decided to swarm it. He did not favour going out of the city to face the enemy in the battlefield. Abdullah b. Ubayy, too, agreed with the Prophet, but some of the Muslims who had somehow missed the opportunity of engaging the enemy at Badr were more enthusiastic. They said, "O Prophet of Allah, let us go forth and smite our foes, otherwise they would think that we fear to leave the city and face them." While they kept on urging the Prophet in this way, he went into his house and put on his coat of armour. The young men who had been keen on meeting the enemy outside the city admonished themselves for their over-eagerness in light of the Prophet's reluctance. Realizing their hastiness, they begged the Prophet to follow his first counsel for they may have been mistaken in persuading him against his will. "If you wish to remain inside the city", they said, "We will not oppose you." However, the Prophet of God replied, "It befits not a prophet, when once he had put on the armour, to take it off until he has fought." The Prophet then marched out with a thousand men strong army; yet, he had not gone far away when Abdullah b. Ubayy withdrew with a third of the army's men. Abdullah said to his comrades, "He disregarded my advice, but a ccepted theirs."

The Prophet takes positions

The Prophet marched into the gorge of mount Uhud, about three kilometres to the north of Madinah and positioned himself with the mountain to his back. He also instructed his men, "Let none of you fight until I give you the word." The Prophet then drew up his troops for battle, which numbered 700 men all in all. On the adjoining mountain he established 50 archers under Abdullah b. Jubayr and instructed them to keep the enemy cavalry away, for, he said, in no case should they be allowed to come on the Muslims from the rear whether the Muslims won the day or lost it. "Abandon not your position", he commanded them sternly, "Even if the birds snatch up these men."

The first phase of action

The battle began and each side hurled itself against the other, while a group of women, headed by the bloodthirsty Hind, rattled their tambourines while singing in order to urge the Quraish troops to deeds of valour. A general engagement ensued and the battle turned hot. Abu Dujana fought with the Prophet's sword, killing everybody who came up against him and advanced deep into the enemy's ranks.

Hamza killed
Hamza fought gallantly and killed a number of notable Quraish leaders. Nobody was able to bear his dashing charge, however, Wahshi, the slave of Jubayr B. Mu'tim, was watching the movements of Hamza, for he had been promised freedom by his master on the condition that he killed him. Jubayr's uncle Tu'ayma had been killed by Hamza at Badr, while Hind had also urged Jubayr to get Hamza killed by Wahsi. At last Wahshi got his chance and plunged at Hamza while he was preoccupied in a fight with another

soldier. Wahshi, an expert javelin thrower, launched his bow and arrow at Hamza, piercing the lower part of his body. Hamza shivered, and then he collapsed and dropped dead.

Victory of the Muslims

Allah fulfilled the promise He had made to the Muslims. The history of Badr was repeated once again; a number of the Quraish nobles fell in succession and their troops took to their heels. The Muslims found Hind and her companions abandoning their songs and running away.

The table turns on the Muslims

The Quraish had suffered an obvious rout. The ignominious retreat of the enemy troops and their women accompanying them made the archers certain of their victory. Uttering shouts of glee, they deserted their posts to despoil the enemy camp. Abdullah b. Jubyr, the leader of the archers, reminded his men of the command given by the Prophet, but none of them were prepared to listen to him, except for a handful. So certain were they of their victory that return of the enemy, which was running for their lives, seemed inconceivable to them. Then, the situation changed. No longer obstructed by the potential flurry of arrows, the Makkan cavalry found its way to the unprotected rear of the Muslim army. The standard bearers of the Quraish had been killed; their standard was lying in the dust and nobody dared come near it. Suddenly, the Quraish came smashing through the Muslims rear and someone called out: Ha, Muhammad has been killed. The Muslim troops, bounded upon the fugitives, turned back to face the enemy from the rear; the decamping Quraish soldiers were emboldened and returned to resume their attack on the Muslims. The situation now became extremely critical for the Muslims with the enemy being bent upon taking full advantage of the opportunity. The surprise and confusion overcoming the Muslims was as shocking as the two-pronged attack by the Makkans was violent. The Quraish's troops led by "Abdullah b. Qumiyah and Utbah b. Abi Waqqas, made a bold charge and reached cl ose to the Prophet. The Muslim troops began to waiver, several were honoured with martyrdom; and the Prophet was hit with a stone. He fell on his side, while one of his front teeth was smashed, his face was swollen and his lips were injured. The blood which was running down his face was wiped by the Prophet, while he said, "How can a people prosper who have stained their prophets' face with blood while he only summoned them to the worship of their Lord?" The majority of the Muslim soldiers had been scatter ed and nobody knew where the Prophet was. Ali took hold of the Prophet's hand while Talha b. Ubaydullah lifted him up until the Prophet got on his feet. The Muslims had actually neither fled away nor had they been completely defeated. The flanks of their army had folded up so they were forced to retreat in order to regroup and reinforce their strength for a similar situation. It was, no doubt, a day of test and trial for the Muslims in which they lost a number of their gallant warriors and virtuous comrades of the Prophet, but all this had come to pass because of the mistake of the archers who had exposed the Muslim flank. They had disobeyed the Prophet by abandoning the post on which the Prophet had stationed them. After this Allah revealed to them the following verses concerning the event: "Allah verily made good His promise unto you when you routed them by His leave, until (the moment) when your courage failed you and you disagreed about the order and you disobeyed, after He had shown you that for which you longed. Some of you desired this world and some of you the Hereafter. Therefore He made you flee from them, that He might try you. Yet now He has forgiven you. Allah is a Lord of kindness to the believers." [Qur'an 3:152]

The loving companions

The battle of Uhud also affirmed worthiness of the Prophet and the ardent affection of the companions for him. Two rings from the metal chain strap of the helmet worn by the Prophet had been embedded into his cheek. Abu Ubayda b. Al -Jarrah pulled out one of the rings and one of his front teeth dropped out; he pulled out another ring and another tooth fell down; Abu Dujana leaned over the Prophet to shield him from arrows until many were stuck in his back. S'ad b. Abi Waqqas stood by the Prophet shooting arrows in his defence, while the Prophet handed him the arrows one by one, saying, "Shoot, may my father and my mother be ransomed for you." The blood-crazy infidels surged toward the Prophet; they were ready to die a hundred times in order to kill him, but God had willed it otherwise. Ten of his companions laid down their lives, one by one, defending him. Talaha b. Ub aydullah protected the Prophet from the arrows shot by the enemy with his hands, until his fingers bled profusely and his hands were paralyzed. The Prophet

wanted to climb up the mountain. He tried but could not do so due to the weakness caused by his injuries. Talha b. Ubaydulla h squatted beneath him and helped him to climb up the rock. The Prophet performed the noon-prayer on the rock sitting, because of the wounds he had received.

Muslims regain confidence

A renewed vigour was thrust into the Muslims when they found that the Prophet was still alive. Many of them gathered round him and took him towards a secluded, narrow valley. On reaching the mouth of the secluded, narrow valley, Ali brought water in his shield and Fatimah washed the blood from the Prophet's face. When his wounds continued bleeding, 'Ali burnt a piece of mat and dressed the wounds of the Prophet with its ash and the bleeding stopped. Hind b. Utbah and the women with her mutilated the dead bodies of Muslims and cut off their ears and noses. Hind cut out Hamza's liver and chewed it, but when she could not swallow it, she threw it away. Before ordering his army to retire Abu Sufyan ascended a hillock and shouted. "Victory in war goes by turns: one wins today and the other tomorrow - Glory be to Hubel." The Prophet told 'Umar to get up and say in reply, " God is the Highest and Most Majestic; None exists besides him. Our dead are in paradise and yours in Hell." Abu Sufayan came out with the reply, "We have the idol Uzza while you have none." The Prophet again directed his companions to say in reply: " Allah is our protector, but you have none." Before Abu Sufyan departed, he called out, "We shall meet again at Badr next year." Thereupon the Prophet asked a companion to say, "Yes, it is an appointment between us". The people searched for their dead in order to give them a proper burial. The Prophet was visibly moved by the death of Hamza, his uncle and foster-brother who had always been a source of strength to him. The Prophet directed the martyrs to be shrouded in pairs and ordered the lowering of the corpse of that martyr first in the grave who had memorized more of the Qur'an. While the martyrs were being buried, he said, "I shall be a witness unto them on the Day of Resurrection." He also ordered to them to be buried in the condition in which they had died.

Devotion and faithfulness

The Makkan army had departed from Uhud but they had not gone far away when the people were heard complaining against one another and accusing their leaders of withdrawing without pressing home their advantage. On the other hand, the Prophet decided the very next day, which was Sunday, to move out in pursuit of the retreating enemy. It was the time when most of the Muslims were tired and wounded, but the Prophet sent a person to announce that everybody who had been present in the battle of Uhud should get ready to pursue the enemy. None demurred, none protested; every Muslim who had fought at Uhud the day before followed the Prophet on his way out of Madinah in spite of his fatigue and wounds. The Prophet camped with his followers at Hamra al-Asad, about 13 kilometers from Madinah, where he remained from Monday until Wednesday. The Prophet and the rest returned when there was no more possibility of the enemy's resurgence. The dutiful compliance to the Prophet's command by his companions at this difficult hour exhibited their love for him, which was felt all too deeply and has been mentioned by God through the following verses of the Qur'an: "As for those who heard the call of Allah and His Messenger after the harm befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right and ward off (evil), there is great reward, Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefore fear them, (the threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried; Allah is sufficient for us! Most excellent is He in whom we trust! So they returned with grace and favour from Allah, and no harm touched. They followed the good pleasure of Allah and Allah is of infinite bounty. It is only the devil who would make (men) fear his partisans. Fear them not; Fear Me, if you are true believers." [Qur'an 3:172-75]

Results of the battle

The battle of Uhud was no doubt a temporary defeat for the Muslims. But it cannot be considered a decisive victory of the Pagans especially that they failed to take full advantage of their initial triumph in it and withdrew from the encounter at an untimely moment while they could have turned their preliminary success to a decisive victory. The strategic aim of the Meccas was nothing less than the destruction of the Muslim community as such, or the removal of Muhammad from his position of influence in Medina. This aim they completely failed to achieve. It was an intimation that the end of their commercial empire was at hand. The Muslims had shown themselves almost equal to the Meccans. Their infantry was more than a match for their opponents. The Prophet managed to leave the battleground with relatively minimal losses not exceeding 10% of his forces. However, his army learned useful lessons which proved to be very productive and decisive in the following days. For the future much would depend on how many men he could attract to his community and whether he could maintain its fighting qualities. Muhammad was able to attract military support because his was a religious movement and because he was being carried forward in the stream of emergent

social features. The Meccans were attempting to retain a position of privilege that was no longer appropriate in the new circumstances.

Lessons drawn from the battle

It was made clear that victory in the battle was not dependent on the number of soldiers available . The Muslims triumphed in Badr and failed in Uhud, in spite of the fact that the proportion of the pagan army supremacy was almost the same in both battles. Another essential was also clarified and that was the importance of purifying the ranks from hypocrites and people with weak faith. The withdrawal of Abdullah Ibn Abi Salul was a lesson that could not be forgotten by Muslims in the distant future. Thus we will realize that Abu Bakr did not anymore allow apostates after the passing away of the Prophet to take part in any armed conquest. The battle taught the Muslims that the laws of life are fixed: When they applied the fundamentals which lead to victory, they attain victory; when they do not take these keys seriously, they lose. This is one of God's laws in the universe, and it is a fixed law. It also taught the Muslims the importance of military discipline and abiding to the instructions of the leader under all circumstances. It was made clear to the Muslims that the first reason of their defeat was the laxity of the archers in executing the orders. This deprived the rear side of the Muslim army from protection and enabled Khalid ibn al Walid and company to encircle them. Many Quranic verses were revealed concerning the battle of Uhud including the lessons that can be drawn from it. Remember that morning Thou didst leave Thy household (early) to post the faithful at their stations for battle: And Allah he areth and knoweth all things:Remember two of your parties Meditated cowardice; but Allah was their protector, and in Allah should the faithful (Ever) put their trust. [Quran 3:121 -122] Allah did indeed fulfil His promise to you when ye with His permission Were about to annihilate your enemy, -until ye flinched and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed it after He brought you in sight (of the booty) which ye covet. Among you are some that hanker after this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then did He divert you from your foes in order to test you. But He forgave you: For Allah is full of grace to those who believe. [Quran 3:152]