Battle of Uhud: Difference between revisions

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 never to 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>

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 the 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 the 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>