THE BATTLE OF UHUD IN SHAWWAL (THE 3RD YEAR OF HIJRAH)
The author relates to us that the reason why Uhud was so named is because of the solitude of its mountain. In the Saheeh, it is reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we love it.” Its meaning is that its inhabitants love us and we also love them. It is also said that it is owing to the fact that it gives one the impression of the proximity of his family upon return from his journey just as the beloved would do. It is also said that literally, it is similar to Allah’s statement: And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which fall down for fear of Allah. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:74)
This battle occurred in the Shawwal of the 3rd year of Hijrah. Malik said: Its occurrence was in the first few days of the month based on the most popular view. It is concerning this battle that Allah says: And (remember) when you (Muhammad) left your household in the morning to post the Believers at their stations for the Battle (of Uhud). And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. When two parties from among you were about to lose heart, but Allah was their Wali (Supporter and Protector). And in Allah should the Believers put their trust. And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful. (Remember) when you (Muhammad) said to the Believers, “Is it not enough for you that your Lord (Allah) should help you with three thousand angels; sent down?” “Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks (of distinction); (Soorah Al ‘Imran 3:121-125) and the Verses following them up to the Verse:
Allah (SWT) will not leave the Believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen), but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. And if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward (Soorah Aal ‘Imran 3:179)
When the Quraish polytheists were defeated in the battle and their vanquished soldiers returned to Makkah, Abu Sufyan had also returned with his caravan. ‘Abdullah Ibn Abi Rabi’ah, ‘Ikrimah Ibn Abi Jahl, Safwan Ibn Umayyah among a couple of other Quraishi men whose fathers, sons and brothers were killed in the Battle of Badr came to meet Abu Sufyan to consult with him and other merchants in his caravan. They said: “O Quraish, Muhammad has left us with your best men killed, assist us with this wealth so that we may wage war against him in revenge.” And they did so.
Ibn Ishaq said: I have been informed by some men of knowledge that it is concerning them that Allah revealed: Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell. (Soorah Al-Anfal 8:36)
So the Quraish mobilized for war in conjunction with some amenable members of the Arab tribes of Kinanah and Tihamah against Allah’s Messenger after Abu Sufyan and his compatriots in the caravan had supported the war effort.
Jubair Ibn Mut‘im called his Abyssinian slave boy Wahshi, who was very proficient in spear throwing. He said to him to march out along with the army, if you succeed in killing Hamzah, Muhammad’s uncle, in retaliation for the death of my uncle Tu’aimah Ibn Adiyy, then you will be manumitted. Abu Sufyan Sakhr Ibn Harb departed with the Quraishi forces which he himself commanded. With him were his wife, Hind Bint ‘Utbah, Ibn Rabi’ah, ‘Ikrimah Ibn Abi Jahl and his wife, his uncle Al-Harith Ibn Hisham and his wife Fatimah Bint Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mugheerah. Safwan Ibn Umayyah also joined the Quraish contingent with Barzah Bint Mas‘ood Ibn ‘Amr Ibn ‘Umair Ath-Thaqafiyyah. The list also included ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘As along with Raitah Bint Munabbih Ibn Al-Hajjaj, who was the mother of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari narrated that the Prophet said: “In a dream I saw myself migrating from Makkah to a place having plenty of date trees. I thought that it was Al-Yamamah or Hajar, but it came to be Madinah i.e. Yathrib. In the same dream I saw myself moving a sword and its blade got broken. It came to symbolize the defeat which the Muslims suffered on the day of Uhud. I moved the sword again, and it became normal as before, and that was the symbol of the victory Allah bestowed upon Muslims and their gathering together. I saw cows in my dream, and, by Allah, that was a blessing, and they symbolized the Believers on the day of Uhud. And the blessing was the good Allah bestowed upon us and the reward of true belief which Allah gave us after the day of Badr.”
Muhammad Ibn Ishaq related that while the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, related his dream to his Companions, he said to them: “We should remain encamped in Madinah. “ ‘Abdullah Ibn Ubayy supported the Messenger of Allah’s plan not to go out to fight them. Some men whom Allah honored with martyrdom at Uhud and others who did not fight at Badr said: “O Messenger of Allah, let us march out against the enemies otherwise they will think that we are cowards and weak to fight them.”
‘Abdullah Ibn Ubayy said: “O Messenger of Allah, do not go out to confront them.
Never did we go out of the city to fight an enemy except that we were defeated and never did anyone come here except that they were vanquished.” The people who were eager for war kept pressurizing the Messenger of Allah till he entered his room and put on his armor. That incident was on a Friday after the prayers. Malik Ibn ‘Amr from Banu Najjar had died that day. After the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, offered the funeral prayer on him, he marched out for war. Soon the Companions began to regret coercing the Prophet into fighting against his will. When he came out, they said to him:
“O Allah’s Messenger, if you so desire, you can remain in Madinah.” He replied: “It is not fitting for a Prophet after putting on his armor to take it off until he has fought.” The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, set out with a thousand of his Companions. Ibn Hisham added that he appointed Ibn Umm Maktoom to oversee the affairs of Madinah in his absence.
Ibn Ishaq continued: The Messenger of Allah proceeded till he reached Ash-Shawt, at a distance between Madinah and Uhud; there, ‘Abdullah Ibn Ubayy withdrew with one-third of the Muslim forces. He said to his cohorts: “He (the Messenger of Allah) obeyed them and disobeyed me, I do not see the reason why we should kill ourselves here, O people.” So he withdrew with his followers from the hypocrites and doubters. ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Haram As-Salami, Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah’s father, followed them appealing: “O people, I remind you of Allah, do not forsake your people and your Prophet while their enemy is nearby.” They said: “If we know for sure that there would be a fight, we would not abandon you, but we don’t think there will be any fighting.” When they persisted in withdrawing, he said: “May Allah distance you, O enemies of Allah, Allah will surely make His Prophet be rid of you.”
I say: These groups who betrayed the Prophet and the Muslims were the same set of people concerning whom Allah says: 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 would 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. (Soorah Aal ‘Imran 3:167) i.e. they lied in their statement that, Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they have earned. (Soorah An-Nisa’ 4:88)
This is because a party of them said: “Let us fight against them” while the others said, “Let us not fight against them,” as apparent from the narration related in the Saheeh. ‘Urwah and Moosa Ibn ‘Uqbah related that when ‘Abdullah Ibn Ubayy withdrew with his followers, Banu Salamah and Banu Harithah became dejected, thus, Allah strengthened them. He says:
When two parties from among you were about to lose heart, but Allah was their Wali (Supporter and Protector). And in Allah should the believers put their trust. (Soorah Aal ‘Imran 3:122)
Jabir ibn Abdullah said: I would not like that it was not revealed since Allah said: Allah was their Wali as is established in the Saheehain from him.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, proceeded till they dismounted and camped at the mountain pass of Uhud by the slope of the valley and around the mountain. The Prophet positioned his army in such a way that they backed mount Uhud. He gave them strict instructions: “No one should precipitate in a fight until I order him to do so.” Meanwhile, the Quraish Calvary and infantry had disembarked at a pasture situated at the brink of a water source belonging to the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, mobilized his men, now reduced to seven hundred men. He appointed Abdullah Ibn Jubair, a member of Banu ‘Amr Ibn ‘Awf. That day, he was distinguished with a white cloth which he wore. The archers were fifty in number and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, clarified their mission: “Drive off the Calvary from us with showers of arrows lest they should attack us from behind. Whether we are having the upper hand or being defeated, remain in your position, so that they do not attack us from your flank.” A corroboration of that from the Saheehain shall be presented in due course, if Allah permits.
Ibn Ishaq said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, appeared wearing two coats of mail, one over the other and he handed the flag to Mus‘ab Ibn ‘Umair, a member of the Banu Abdud-Dar tribe.
Allah’s Messenger had turned back a couple of youngsters from the Battle of Badr due to their age, among whom was: ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar, as is related in the Saheehain. He himself narrated: “I was presented to the Prophet on the day of Uhud but he did not permit me (to partake in the battle). However, I was presented to him on the day of Khandaq when I was fifteen years old, and he permitted me (to partake in the war).”
Imam Ahmad related that Anas narrated that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took hold of his sword on the day of Uhud and said: “Who will take this sword from me?” All the people (present) stretched out their hands saying: “I will do it, I will do it.” He (Allah’s Messenger) said: “Who will take it in order to fulfill its rights?” Then the people withdrew their hands. Abu Dujanah Simak said: “I am here to take it and fulfill its rights.” He took it and struck the heads of the polytheists. Muslim also related it from Abi Bakr from ‘Affan.
Ibn Ishaq related that Abu Dujanah was a valiant man. He would prance about on the battlefield in arrogant and taunting gait brandishing his sword shining like a blaze of fire. Whenever he wore a red headband, people knew that he was going to fight. When he took the sword from Allah’s Messenger, he pranced about on the battlefield in arrogant and taunting gait between the two lines (i.e. of the two opposing forces).
He (Ibn Ishaq) added: Ja’far Ibn ‘Abdullah Ibn Aslam Mawla ‘Umar narrated to me from a man from Banu Salimah who said: When Allah saw the arrogant gait of Abu Dujanah, he said: “This kind of walk is hateful to Allah except (it is excused) in this kind of situation.”
Ibn Ishaq continued: Abu Sufyan said to the standard-bearers of Banu Abdud-Dar while going to war: “O Banu Abdud-Dar, you have been assigned to bear our flag in the Battle of Badr and you know what has happened. The first standard is the first thing the enemies assail, should it fall, the entire army falls as well. Thus, either you guard its safely on our behalf, or you leave it for us and we will certainly relieve you of that burden.” They got infuriated and threatened him saying: “Do you want us to deliver to you our standard? Tomorrow, when we start the battle, you will observe our (valiant) exploit.” That is exactly what Abu Sufyan intended.
When the two armies drew close to each other, Hind, the daughter of ‘Utbah along with other women with her, beat on tambourines behind the ranks of the Quraish warriors in order to incite them.
Ibn Hisham added: I have been informed by more than one scholar that Az-Zubair Ibn Al-‘Awwam said: “I felt a disappointment in my mind when I requested Allah’s Messenger for the sword but he declined to give me but handed it over to Abu Dujanah. I said to myself: ‘I am the son of Safiyyah, his aunt, I am also a Quraishi and I rose to take the sword and I had requested it before him and yet he gave it to Abu Dujanah instead of me. By Allah, I am going to see what he will do with it.’ So I followed him. He took out a red band and wound it around his head and the Ansar exclaimed: “Abu Dujanah has brought out the band of death.” This is what they usually say whenever he wounds his head band.
By: Ibn Katheer
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