Events of the Battle of Uhud
Beginning of the Battle of Uhud
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) entered the battlefield of Uhud with an army of 700 fighters, following the withdrawal of 300 hypocrites. He strategically positioned his troops and deployed a number of archers at the only vulnerable point in the battlefield. He emphasized the importance of maintaining their positions no matter what occurred, designating Abdullah ibn Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) as their leader, stressing the necessity of protecting the flanks of the Muslim army. The conflict commenced on a Saturday, the 7th of Shawwal in the third year of Hijra, featuring intense fighting between the two factions. The first encounter occurred between Talha ibn Abi Talha al-Abdari and Al-Zubair ibn Al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him); Al-Zubair advanced, mounted his camel, and brought him down, killing him. Witnessing this act, the Prophet (peace be upon him) referred to Al-Zubair as his companion. Then, Osman ibn Talha advanced, and was killed by Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him). Following that, their brother Abu Sa’d was killed by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him). The Muslims emerged victorious in every duel that took place.
Archers Disobeying the Prophet’s Orders
At the initial stages of the battle, things were progressing without any casualties for the Muslims, leading some of the disbelievers to contemplate retreating. In critical moments, however, some Muslims abandoned their positions. Forty archers left the high ground to claim spoils of war. Abdullah ibn Jubair called out to remind them of the Prophet’s orders, but they disregarded him. Khalid ibn Al-Walid identified this gap in the Muslim ranks, maneuvered behind the mountain with his troops, and attacked. The remaining archers attempted to resist him, but many were slain. Khalid rallied the disbelievers, prompting them to re-engage in battle, encircling the Muslims from both front and rear. The Prophet (peace be upon him) called on those who had fled, as only ten of his companions remained alongside him.
The Prophet and His Companions Suffer Severe Harm
Hearing the Prophet’s appeals, Khalid returned to the conflict. The Prophet (peace be upon him) urged his companions to stand firm in defense of him, promising them Paradise. Seven of the Ansar advanced to protect him and were ultimately killed. Then, Imarah ibn Yazid ibn Al-Sakan (may Allah be pleased with him) fought valiantly until he was wounded, eventually collapsing with his head resting on the Prophet’s feet, passing away while clinging to him. Those who remained continued to defend him as stones were hurled at the Prophet’s face, causing blood to flow from his noble visage. Abdullah ibn Shihab struck him on the head, and Abdullah ibn Qum’ah hit his shoulder. The Prophet (peace be upon him) suffered from these injuries for an entire month, and the injuries to his face were severe enough to require treatment, leaving him severely affected. Talha defended the Prophet, absorbing arrows aimed at him, until Mus’ab ibn Umair arrived, holding the banner of the Emigrants, fighting fiercely until he was killed. The disbelievers then mistakenly believed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had been killed, as he bore a striking resemblance to Mus’ab.
Rumors of the Prophet’s demise spread, prompting Nusaybah, the mother of Inabah, to join the battle, tending to the wounded while Muslims gathered around the Prophet (peace be upon him) to defend him, totaling thirty men. They withdrew towards the mountain. This was observed by Ubayy ibn Ka’b, who remarked, “Let them not escape if he escapes!” Abu Sufyan approached to gloat and inquired about the Prophet, taunting, “May Hubal be exalted!” The companions retorted, “Allah is Most High and Exalted.” Abu Sufyan continued, “We have the ‘Uzza, and you have none!” to which they replied, “Allah is our protector, and you have none.” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) countered, “Our slain are in Paradise, while yours are in Hell.” Subsequently, Abu Sufyan and his cohorts withdrew, signifying an end to the battle.
The Outcome of the Battle of Uhud
The Battle of Uhud resulted in the martyrdom of seventy companions, with thirty disbelievers killed. This battle diminished the prestige of Muslims in the eyes of the disbelievers, emboldening other tribes to unite and attack them, such as the Banu Hudhayl and the clans of Najd led by Tulayha al-Asadi. Furthermore, the critical circumstances surrounding the Islamic mission became apparent, as the companions recognized their mistakes and disobedience to the Prophet’s commands, leading them to express remorse and recommit to his directives.
Martyrs of the Battle of Uhud
In the Battle of Uhud, seventy esteemed companions were martyred; four were Emigrants, and according to some reports, six, while the rest were Ansar. Among the Emigrants were Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, who was killed by Wahshi, Mus’ab ibn Umair, slain by Ibn Qum’ah, and Abdullah ibn Jahsh, nicknamed “The One Abused for the Sake of Allah” due to the brutality of his death. From the Ansar, notable names include Anas ibn al-Nadr, Sa’d ibn al-Rabi’, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram, Amr ibn al-Jamuh, and Hanzala ibn Abi Amir, who was given the title “The One Washed by Angels.” Abdullah ibn Jubair, whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) appointed as the leader of the archers, also fell in battle. Numerous evidences highlight their merits, including:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his wish to be alongside them, indicated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say when the companions of Uhud were mentioned: ‘By Allah, I wish I had been martyred with the companions of the mountain.'” This signifies the lower slopes of the mountain, where the Prophet would also visit their graves, greet them, and offer prayers on their behalf.
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed that their souls reside as if they were in the bellies of green birds near Paradise’s rivers, feasting upon its fruits and resting in the shade of the Most Merciful’s Throne. Allah revealed, “And do not think of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”
Lessons Learned from the Battle of Uhud
Scholars have identified numerous lessons and insights to be drawn from the Battle of Uhud, including:
- Realizing the companions’ faults and understanding that the calamities they faced were consequences of their actions, as referenced in the verse: “And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you killed them by His permission, until you lost heart and fell to disputing about the order and disobeyed after He showed you that which you love. Among you are those who desire this world, and among you are those who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you away from them that He might test you. And He had certainly forgiven you, and Allah is full of bounty upon the believers.” Following this, they became more vigilant in obeying the Prophet (peace be upon him) and adhering to his directives, while avoiding the causes of defeat.
- Demonstrating Allah’s wisdom in warfare, encompassing both victory and defeat, as these serve as tests between truth and falsehood. This also distinguishes true believers from hypocrites and signifies that messengers will face trials before final victory, discouraging pride and arrogance in victory.
- Testing Allah’s servants through trials, emphasizing that honor and victory come only after struggles and setbacks, as highlighted in the verse: “And Allah had certainly aided you at Badr while you were weak.” These trials elevate them to higher ranks in Paradise due to their endurance of hardship and adversity.
- Enabling the noble companions to achieve the esteemed rank of martyrdom, which is among the highest levels, while also laying the groundwork for the enemies’ demise due to their tyranny and opposition to Islam, as indicated in the verse: “So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you are the uppermost if you should be believers. If a wound should touch you, a wound has touched the people. And those days We alternate among the people, and that Allah may make evident those who believe and may take to Himself from among you martyrs. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers. And that Allah may purify the believers and destroy the disbelievers.”
- Teaching the noble companions the causes of defeats, allowing them to avoid repeating such mistakes, which subsequently contributed to their future victories, as noted in the verse: “And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
- Instructing the companions in the principle of consultation, as the Prophet leaned towards engaging in battle within the city, but the companions suggested fighting outside it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not retract his agreement to engage the disbelievers outside the city after donning his armor and preparing for battle.