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BATTLE OF UHUD
SUMMARY OF
WAR
This war was waged by the
disbelievers to take revenge of the Battle of Badr, where
seventy of their prominent leaders were killed and another
seventy were arrested, while only fourteen Muslims became
martyrs.
The disbelievers
consisted of three thousand soldiers, three thousand camels and
two hundred horses. There were also fifteen ladies in this army
acting as cheerleaders for these men.
Muslim army
initially consisted of one thousand soldiers. When Muslim troops
reached near Uhud Mountain, Abdullah bin Obey, and the head of
hypocrites, suddenly left the Muslim army and went back to
Madina with his three hundred followers. Father of Jaber (AS)
reminded them of their duty to Allah (SWT) but they did not
listen.
Allah (SWT) exposed these hypocrites in
Al-Imran #167
And that He might test
the hypocrites, it was said to them: “Come, fight in the Way of
Allah or (at least) defend yourselves.” They said: “Had we known
that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed
you.” They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to Faith,
saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah
has full knowledge of what they conceal.
Finally two armies
faced each other near Uhud Mountain. The Prophet (SAS) used
excellent war strategy in placing his troops. Some arrow men
were stationed at a hillock to stop the advancement of enemy.
Initially the enemy suffered defeat. Consequently most of the
Muslim arrow men left their station to collect booty. The enemy
took advantage of this and attacked the Muslim army from this
direction. Many Muslim fatalities took place and even the
Prophet (SAS) was badly injured. The disbelievers mutilated the
martyrs and left for Makkah with a feeling of success.
DETAILS OF WAR
Let us touch upon a few
of the events of this battle when about several hundred Muslims
fought the mighty three thousand disbelievers.
Initially Zubair bin
Awwam (RU), Saad bin Abi Waqas (RU) Asim bin Thabit (RU), Ali
(RU) and Hamza (RU) killed ten persons of same household and
nobody was left from this family to carry the flag of the
disbelievers.
The arrow men initially
did a fantastic job by defeating the enemy troops thrice. The
enemy started running away. As mentioned in Bukhari and narrated
by Bra bin Azib (RU), even their cheerleaders were madly running
away and lower part of their legs were bare to help them fleeing
fast.
Wahshi, the slave of
Jubair bin Muttan hid himself behind a rock and treacherously
attacked Hamza (RU) and Hamza (RU) became a martyr. Inspite of
this Muslims had clearly upper hand.
The arrow men were
instructed by the Prophet (SAS) not to leave their station under
any circumstances. Most of the arrow men felt that Allah (SWT)
has granted victory to the Muslim army. They could not resist
collecting booty of the rich enemy. Abdullah bin Jubair (RU),
leader of the arrow men reminded them about the instructions of
the Prophet (SAS). Unfortunately Abdullah bin Jubair (RU) was
left there with only nine arrow men. The enemy took advantage of
this opportunity and once again attacked these arrow men. All
nine became martyrs. The enemy horsemen advanced further and
encircled the Muslim army. Muslims got confused and disorganized
and some were forced to run away for their lives. The victory
rapidly changed into an extreme emergency.
Even in this situation
many companions fought very gallantly. For example, as mentioned
in Bukhari, Anas bin Nadar (RU) became martyr and there were
seventy cuts on his body. His sister could identify his body
only by the tips of his fingers.
The Prophet (SAS) was
left with only nine Companions around him. A bloody battle took
place around the Prophet (SAS). The seven Companions became
martyrs one by one while defending the Prophet (SAS). As
mentioned in Bukhari, only Talha bin Ubaidullah (RU) and Saad
bin Abi Waqas (RU) were left to defend the Prophet (SAS).
PROPHET’S
(SAS) INJURIES.
Enemy’s stone hit the
Prophet (SAS). He fell down, and one of his lower teeth broke
off and his lower lip was also injured. Another enemy injured
his forehead. A third enemy hit the Prophet (SAS) very hard with
his sword. As a result of this two rings of the helmet of the
Prophet (SAS) penetrated into his cheek. The blood started
flowing down on his face.
DEFENCE OF THE PROPHET
(SAS)
Saad
bin Abi Waqas (RU) was shooting arrows on the enemy. Prophet
(SAS) was extremely pleased with him and made the following
unique dua for him,
“May my father and mother be sacrificed for you.”
Talha (RU) was fighting
the enemy very bravely till his hand was injured and his fingers
were cut off. While fighting the enemy, he also shielded the
Prophet (SAS) with his chest in this critical moment. As stated
in Tirmidhi, the Prophet (SAS) said,
“If
someone desires to see a martyr walking on this land, let them
look at Talha bin Obaidullah.”
As mentioned in Bukhari, Saad bin Abi Waqas (RU) said,
“On the day of the Battle of Uhud I saw two persons dressed in
white around the Prophet (SAS). They were fighting fiercely on
behalf of the Prophet (SAS).I never saw them before and after
this occasion.”
By another narration, they were Jibreal (AS) and Michael (AS)
angels. In the meanwhile about thirty Companions rushed to this
location. Each one of them showed an extraordinary heroism as
seen in the books of history.
Enemy had also dug some
ditches as traps. Unfortunately, the Prophet (SAS) fell into one
of these ditches. The Prophet’s (SAS) knee was injured badly.
Ali (RU) and Talha bin Obaidullah (RU) pulled him out of this
ditch.
Abu Obaida bin Jarrah
(RU) tried to pull the rings of helmet from the cheek of the
Prophet (SAS) by his teeth. In first attempt Abu Obaida (RU)
lost his one lower tooth.He lost another lower tooth while
pulling second ring.
EXAMPLES OF
HEROISM
(a) Musab bin Omair
(RU) was raising the flag of Muslim army and was fighting very
fiercely. During the fighting his right hand was cut off. He
held the flag with his left hand. Later on his left hand was
also cut off by the enemy. He sat down on his knees and held the
flag supported by his chest and neck. He became martyr in this
condition. Since Musab (RU) resembled the Prophet (SAS) very
much, the disbelievers announced that the Prophet (SAS) was
killed. This disheartened many believers.
(b) Abu Dajana (RU)
stood in front of the Prophet (SAS) with his back towards the
enemy to shield the Prophet (SAS). Many arrows of the enemy hit
his back but he did not budge an inch.
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Umm Amara (RU) her husband and two sons also gathered around the
Prophet (SAS) when there were only a handful Companions around
him. Umm Amara with her naked sword defended the Prophet (SAS)
from all directions. The whole family demonstrated extraordinary
bravery. The Prophet (SAS) said,
“O Allah, have mercy on this family.”
The Prophet (SAS) also made this dua for this family,
“O Allah please make all of them my Companions in Paradise.”
WOMEN IN THE
BATTLEFIELD
As mentioned in Bukhari
and narrated by Anas (RU), some Muslim women came to the
battlefield at the end of the fight. They were carrying water
bags to provide water to the wounded soldiers. Among them were
Aisha (RUH) Umm Saleem (RUH), Umm Saleeth (RUH) and Umm Aiman
(RUH).
MUTILATION OF
MARTYR
When Musab bin Omair
(RU) became martyr, the enemy announced that the Prophet (SAS)
was killed since he resembled the Prophet (SAS) very much. The
disbelievers felt that their mission was accomplished. Hence
the disbelievers started mutilation of the martyrs. They cut
their ears, noses, and private parts and made garlands out of
them. Hind bint Utba, the wife of Abu Sufyan, cut the belly of
Hamza (RU) and grabbed his liver and chewed it to satisfy her
anger. The idolaters decided to go back to Makkah since, in
their view, their main mission was accomplished.
THE STATUS OF
COMPANIONS
There were three
factors, which changed this victory into a defeat like situation
for the Muslims.
(a) Disobedience of the Prophet’s (SAS) instructions by the
arrow men.
(b) News of the
Prophet’s (SAS) death. It disheartened many believers.
(c) Disagreement in
battlefield about the instructions of the Prophet (SAS)
This is
described in Al-Imran #152
And Allah did indeed fulfil His
Promise to you when you were killing them with His Permission;
until you lost your courage and fell to disputing about the
order, and disobeyed after He showed you which you love. Among
you are some that desire this world and some that desire the
Hereafter. Then He made you flee from them, that He might test
you. But surely, He forgave you, and Allah is Most Gracious to
the believers.
Allah (SWT) says that this extreme
hardship was to sort out the hypocrites from the sincere
believers. Allah (SWT) consoles the believers by declaring that
Allah (SWT) has forgiven them. Hence they will not have to
account for it on the Day of Judgment. Allah (SWT) is very
Gracious with the Muslims.
There is detailed description of this
awkward situation in Al-Imran #153-155
(And remember) when you ran away
without even casting a side glance at anyone, and the Messenger
was in your rear calling you back. There did Allah give you one
distress after another by way of requital to teach you not to
grieve for that which had escaped you, nor for that which had
befallen you. And Allah is Well-Aware of all that you do.
Then after the distress, He sent
down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you.
Those of you who turned back on
the day the two hosts met, it was Shaitan who caused them to
backslide because of some they had earned. But Allah, indeed,
has forgiven them. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Forbearing.
Here it is pointed out
that it was to test the believers. Some of believers were
influenced by Satan due to some of their deeds. There is again
very clear verdict of Allah (SWT) in the last verse stating that
Allah (SWT) has already forgiven the Companions since Allah
(SWT) is often Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
It is a shame
that in spite of above two verdicts of Allah (SWT), some people
talk unkindly about the companions. As mentioned in the above
verse, Allah (SWT) showered his additional blessings on some
Companions by covering them with slumber in the battlefield.
This revived them and made them more secure. Note that slumber
in a battlefield is a blessing while it is a curse during the
performance of salat. Similar blessing of Allah (SWT)was
showered on the extremely worried Muslims during the battle of
Bad.
Al-Anfal#11
(Remember) when He covered you
with a slumber as a security from Him,
Consider
another mistake of the Companions and how Allah (SWT) responded
to that. When the head of the hypocrites went away from the
battlefield with his three hundred followers, it affected the
morale of some other Muslim tribes. In fact, Bani Hartha and
Bani Salma got very disheartened. They felt like following the
example of hypocrites and were about to abandon Muslim army.
Allah (SWT), due to His Mercy on the Companions, did not let
this idea develop too much in their hearts. Allah (SWT) rather
became their supporter and protector from this mistake .
Al-Imran #122
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When two parties from among you
were about to lose heart, but Allah was their supporter and
protector. And in Allah should the believers put their trust.
These tribes used to
speak proudly that,
“Allah (SWT) is our supporter and
protector.”
Note that Allah (SWT)
is so very kind to the Companions even when they were committing
some mistakes. I wonder how much pleased Allah (SWT) was with
the Companions when they were engaged in good deeds one after
another.Not only
Allah (SWT) forgave the Companions but also instructed the
Prophet (SAS)to be kind to them.
Al-Imran #159
ž
So pass over their faults and ask (Allah's) Forgiveness for
them; and consult them in the affairs.
Examine these four
instructions to the Prophet (SAS).
1-Totally forgive your Companions in spite of their mistakes.
2- Pray for them.
3- Request Allah (SWT)
for their forgiveness.
4- Honor them and take
them into confidence by consulting them in important affairs.
No other religion has such high codes of ethics and
broadmindedness.
After reviewing this guidance of
Allah (SWT), how can a person dare to speak against the
Companions of Prophet Mohammed (SAS).
ANOTHER GIFT OF ALLAH
(SWT)
Towards the
end of the Battle of Uhud, the idolaters were victorious. They
could have attacked Madina village to cause sever damage there.
Allah (SWT) infused fear in their hearts and hence they went
back home to Makkah instead of attacking Madina.
Al-Imran
#151
We shall cast terror into the
hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in
worship with Allah, for which He had sent no authority; their
abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the
polytheists.
I hope that the
visitors of the site of the Battle of Uhud will benefit from the
lessons provided in this article.
The Prophet (SAS) and
his Companions took a brief rest at the site of masjid
Al-Mustrah on their way back to Madina. This masjid lies on the
road now known as Sayyid-Shuhada road. During our visit to this
mosque we should pray for the Muslim soldiers and compare our
comfortable lives with the injured Prophet (SAS) and his
Companions.
May Allah induce in us
the perseverance and steadfastness of the Companions of the
Prophet (SAS).
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