The Battle of Uhud was a great example of what can happen when you disobey the Messenger of God (pbuh). It was a grave lesson for the believers and a warning to them. At the same time, it was a defeat and a victory for both sides. To fully understand the Battle of Uhud, we must divide it into three parts: the events in chronological order, the analysis of the events and the wisdom gained from this experience.
From the Quraish’s perspective, this battle was a revenge for the Battle of Badr. The Quraish sent messengers to the different tribes of Mecca to try to gain their support against the Muslims in Madinah. There also hired poets to persuade the people to join. The Makkans even brought fifteen women to influence the men to fight. The Quraish had three thousand men. Seven hundred of their soldiers were armored and two hundred on horseback. They had three thousand camels for the journey. Al Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib sent a message to the Prophet (pbuh) that the Quraish were planning to attack the Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh), after receiving the letter, went to Madinah to discuss the matter. After hearing about the Quraish’s plans, they watched Madinah very carefully. The Muslims organized groups to watch the routes, so that they would know of the coming of the Quraish. Meanwhile the Quraish reached a place near the mountains of Uhud and set up their tents there on Friday, Shawwal 6, 3 A.H. (After Hijrah). The Muslims found the enemy camp and told the Prophet (pbuh) about it. The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to avoid war, so he wanted the Muslims to stay in Madinah, and, if necessary defend it from the Quraish within the city. The final conclusion was to resist the Quraish outside of Madinah. The Prophet (pbuh), after Juma prayer, prepared for the battle. The Prophet (pbuh) made three different groups: Al-Muhajireen, Aws tribe and the Khazraj. The Muslim army had one thousand men. One hundred men were armored and fifty were on horseback. The Jews wanted to fight, but the Prophet (pbuh) did not allow them to. The Prophet (pbuh) sent the physically incapable and young back to Madinah. When the Muslims set up camp, fifty guards were appointed to guard the camp. After the Muslim army was close to the Quraish, Abdullah bin Ubai, a hypocrite, left the battlefield taking three hundred soldiers. This is explained in the Qur’anic verse [3:167]. This incident almost caused the further split of the army, but Allah (swt) helped them. The Qur’anic Verse [3:122] talks about this. The Prophet (pbuh) and his followers continued their march until they came to the valley of Uhud and that is where they settled camp. The Prophet (pbuh) put fifty archers on a strategic location behind the Muslim army. The Prophet (pbuh) at that point gave Abu Dujana his sword. The Quraish put their army into rows; this was a tradition of war that was passed down to them. The battle started with two fighters, Talha bin Abi Talha Al-Abdari and Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam. Az-Zubair killed Talha, so the battle started. The Bani Abd Ad-Dar were the flag-bearers, but they were all defeated in the beginning of the battle. Abu Dujana was fighting very bravely. He was about to kill Abu Sufyan’s wife, but said he respected the Prophet (pbuh)’s sword too much to use on a woman. Humza fought bravely as well, but was killed by a slave, Wahshi bin Harb, who killed him to gain his freedom. Hanzala Al-Ghaseel was just married, he was in his wife’s bed, but when he heard of the battle against the Quraish, he ran to the battlefield. The archers, who the Prophet set up behind the Muslim army, kept the cavalry of the Quraish from overtaking the Muslims by surprise. It seemed the Muslims were winning, so forty of the fifty archers left to collect the spoils. The Quraish saw this and exploited it. They surrounded the Muslims and scattered them. The Prophet (pbuh) started calling them back. Some of the Muslims fled the battlefield out of confusion. The Muslims were lost and there spread a rumor that the Prophet (pbuh) had been killed. Anas An-Nadr said he smelled Paradise on the battlefield and died fighting as a martyr. There were only nine people fighting with the prophet (pbuh). Seven of them, all Ansar, died and only two Muhajireen were left with the Prophet (pbuh). At this point in the battle, the Quraish came to the Prophet, seeing he only had two men with him. The Holy Prophet (pbuh)’s tooth broke, his head was scratched and his cheek was bleeding. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “How can people who cut the Prophet’s face and break his tooth, he who calls them to worship Allah, How can such people thrive or be successful? Allah (swt) replies to the Prophet’s statement in this verse [3:128]. The only two companions left protecting the Prophet (pbuh) were Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas and Talha bin Ubaidullah. They were great fighters and kept the Quraish away. Talha paralyzed his arm defending the Prophet (pbuh). Abu Dujana protected the Prophet (pbuh) from arrows by shielding him by his back, while Talha protected him from the arrows by using his chest as a shield. Qatabah bin-Nu’man’s eye fell out, when the Prophet (pbuh) put it back in; it was became better than his other eye. Abdur Rahman bin Awf broke his mouth and wounded his leg. Umm Amarah fought in the battle until she received 12 wounds. Musab bin Umair carried the flag till his death. Ali received the flag from the Prophet (pbuh) after Musab’s death. Uthman bin Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah tried to kill the Prophet (pbuh), but was killed by Al-Harith bin As-Simma. The Muslims finally retreated to the mountains of Uhud. Ubai bin Khalaf was killed by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Al-Harith’s spear. Abu Sufyan and Khalid bin Al-Waleed tried to pursue them, but some companions drove them down the mountain. The disbelievers went back on their way to Makkah. After the battle, the disbelievers mutilated some of the Muslim bodies. Hind bin Utbah, Abu Sufyan’s wife, ripped open Hamza’s liver, chewed it and threw it down. Some Muslim women gave water to the Muslim soldiers. Qazman fought well and killed about seven Quraish, but he fought out of pride. The Prophet (pbuh) said he was a dweller of Hell-Fire after he committed suicide due to the pains of his wounds. A Jew was among the martyred. The Prophet (pbuh) said about him, “He, Mukhaireeq is the best Jew.”
Many people said that the Battle of Uhud was a defeat for the Muslims. In reality, it was a victory and not that much of a defeat. The Muslims learned the importance of obeying the leader and especially the Prophet (pbuh). This will stay as an example for the Muslims of all ages and times. Even one little mistake can prove disastrous. At the same time, it was made clear to the Muslims who were the believers and who were the hypocrites. The true Muslim fought bravely, many were martyred in the way of God. This made the believers’ inspiration to fight in the way of God and die a martyr greater than it was before. The hypocrites fled from the battle field, some even openly opposed the Prophet (pbuh). Even though the Quraish won, they became cowardly and retreated, knowing that their victory wouldn’t be very long. Even though the believers ended up retreating, they learned very important lessons. The only way it can be seen as a defeat is by the loss of Hamza and the injuries obtained by the Prophet (pbuh). The Quraish had gotten their moment of triumph, but in the end, truth will always prevail over evil.
There are many wisdoms from the outcome of the Battle of Uhud. One thing was that the believers learned from their mistakes. God tested the believers with different circumstances. God also made clear to them the true believers and the hypocrites among them. As was the story of Qazman shows us what happens to those who fight for the wrong reasons. He fought so bravely, but only for pride. In the Hereafter, he was one of the losers. God made him as an example for all people. God made the believers stronger and gave them chance to earn martyrdom. The story of the Jew from Bani Tha’labah, Mukhaireeq, who believed in the message and gained martyrdom at Uhud, was also an example. The Prophet said he was the best Jew. The courageous Talha bin Ubaidullah, who the Prophet (pbuh) gave glad tidings of Paradise, proved his selflessness and his love for Allah and his messenger. In these men, there are examples for us all. We should not fight for nationalistic, ethnic, social or material reasons. We should fight only for Allah (swt), in the way of Allah (swt).
In summary, the Battle of Uhud was revenge by the disbelievers against the Muslims. Although it seemed like a victory for the Muslim, it turned into a defeat due to the disobedience of a few men. In the long run, it was a clear victory because it taught the believers obedience and made obvious to them the hypocrites. This was an example for all future generations of Muslims, and Allah (swt) knows best.
Date:12/19/03
