Battle of Uhud: Difference between revisions

'''The Battle of Uhud''' (Arabic:{{ia|غزوة اُحُد}}) was a famous [[Ghazwa]] of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] against the [[polytheists]] of [[Mecca]] in [[3]]/625. [[Quraysh]] marched out toward [[Medina]], as they desired to avenge their losses in the [[Battle of Badr]] while [[Abu Sufyan]] was the commander of the army. Prophet Muhammad (s) and senior members of [[Ansar]] and [[Muhajirun]] planned to fight against Quraysh within Medina and never left the city; on the other hand young Muslims and also [[Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]], Prophet's uncle, were willing to fight outside the city. Finally Prophet Muhammad (s) decided to accept the wishes of the latter. At first, Muslims defeated Meccans, but a part of Muslim archers having [['Abd Allah b. Jubayr]] as their commander on [[Mount 'Aynayn]] on the left flank of [[Uhud]], left their assigned posts and faced a surprise attack from Meccans which led to defeat of Muslims. They faced a serious defeat with approximately 70 martyred Muslims including Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib who got mutilated, even Prophet Muhammad (s) was badly injured on his face and his tooth.

On Friday Prophet Muhammad (s) hold a meeting over how best to defend against the enemies. Prophet Muhammad (s) and many of senior members of [[Ansar]] and [[Muhajirun]] suggested that it would be safer to fight against them within [[Medina]], while young Muslims and also [[Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] were arguing to fight with them outside Medina. Finally Prophet decided to accept the wishes of the latter.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 210, 213</ref>

Shortly after Prophet's soldiers settled in Uhud, [['Abd Allah b. 'Ubayy]] and a number of Muslim soldiers withdrew their support for Prophet Muhammad (s) and returned to Medina, because they were discontent with the plan of fighting outside of Medina. Therefore, the number of Muslim soldiers reduced to 700 as they were ready to face the Meccans' army.<ref>Zuhrī, ''al-Maghāzī l-Nabawīyya'', p. 77; Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 219; Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 64</ref>

[[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] stationed Muslim soldiers on the slopes of [[Mount Uhud]] and facing [[Medina]] so that they could face enemies while protected by the towering Mount Uhud. He assigned a group of archers on [[Mount 'Aynayn]] with [['Abd Allah b. Jubayr]] as their commander.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 219-220</ref> The Meccan army positioned itself facing Muslim soldiers, [[Khalid b. al-Walid]] and [[Ikrima b. Abi Jahl]] were commanders of right and left flanks of their army.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 220</ref> Before the battle commence, Prophet Muhammad (s) gave a speech to Muslim soldiers and ordered archers to never leave their positions under any circumstances and only protect the other soldiers.<ref>Ibn Isḥāq, ''al-Sīyar wa l-maghāzī'', p. 326; Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 224-225; Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 2, p. 65-66; Bukhārī, ''al-Ṣaḥīḥ'', vol. 5, p. 29</ref>

At the beginning Talha b. Abi Talha, advanced and challenged Muslims to a duel, then [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] rushed forth and struck Talha down. Afterward Muslims became joyful and attacked through the lines of Meccans.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 225-226</ref> The Meccan army was pushed back and they ran away.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 229; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 2, p. 40-41</ref>

Muslim archers who were appointed on the left flank disobeyed Prophet's orders and they ran downhill to load plunder. 'Abd Allah b. Jubayr tried to make them return to their posts but it was unsuccessful. Earlier Khalid b. al-Walid had some ineffective attacks to the left flank of Muslim army.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 229</ref> When they noticed the scattered Muslim soldiers, they attacked again alongside Ikrima b. Abi Jahl to the remaining soldiers on the hill and the rear.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 232; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 2, p. 41-42</ref> Rumors were circulating that [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] was perished.<ref>Zuhrī, ''al-Maghāzī l-Nabawīyya'', p. 77; Ibn Isḥāq, ''al-Sīyar wa l-maghāzī'', p. 27; Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 232</ref> It brought disorder to Muslim army, they scattered all over the place, even some started climbing the mountain.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 235</ref> Prophet Muhammad (s) was wounded due to the stones were thrown at him which caused injuries on his forehead and his tooth.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 244; see Zuhrī, ''al-Maghāzī l-Nabawīyya'', p. 77; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh'', vol. 2, p. 519</ref> Prophet and a few remaining companions<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 240</ref> managed to retreat and find a safe place on the mountain.<ref>Ibn Isḥāq, ''al-Sīyar wa l-maghāzī'', p. 230; Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 2, p. 83; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh'', vol. 2, p. 518</ref>

As [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] narrated from [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]]: "Muslim soldiers were scattered and they tried to run away, only [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] stayed near Prophet Muhammad (s) to protect him. Then some other Muslims joined Prophet (s) including [['Asim b. Thabit]], [[Abu Dujana]], and [[Sahl b. Hunayf]]."<ref>Āyatī, ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 256</ref>

Meccans swept through Muslim soldiers and martyred many, most importantly Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. [[Jubayr b. Mut'im]]'s slave, [[Wahshi b. Harb]], threw Hamza down with a spear and then cut open his corpse, taking out his liver for [[Hind]], Abu Sufyan's wife. She attempted to eat his liver, because Hamza had killed her father before. After Hamza was martyred and mutilated, Prophet Muhammad (s) was dejected and irritated.<ref>Ibn Isḥāq, ''al-Sīyar wa l-maghāzī'', p. 329-333; Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 285-286, 290</ref>

Muslims buried the dead and [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] performed [[Prayer of the Dead|prayer]] on each one of the martyred soldiers and also seventy times on Hamza's body.<ref>Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 2, p. 97; Wāqidī, al-Maghāzī, vol. 1, p. 310; Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 2, p. 44; Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', p. 336</ref> The names of martyred Muslims are exclusively stated in old books; it is also said around twenty Meccans were killed.

After fighting had ceased, [[Abu Sufyan]] came near Muslims who were gathered on slopes of hills, after praising idols he said, this war was a respond to the [[battle of Badr]].<ref>Zuhrī, al-Maghāzī l-Nabawīyya, p. 78; Ibn Isḥāq, al-Sīyar wa l-maghāzī, p. 329-333; Wāqidī, al-Maghāzī, vol. 1, p. 297-297; Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 1, p. 327</ref>