The Battle of Uhud in Quran

The Battle of Uhud

Following their defeat in the Battle of Badr in 2 AH, the disbelievers of Makkah were consumed by a desire for revenge. Consequently, in the following year, 3 AH, during the month of Shawwāl al-Mukarram, this boiling anger erupted, leading to the Battle of Uhud.[1] The disbelievers of Makkah arrived for this battle with great fervour; their eyes were bloodshot with rage and their tongues chanted slogans of “Revenge! Revenge!”

Strength of the Armies:

 In the Battle of Uhud, the number of polytheists was three thousand, while the Islamic army consisted of one thousand men, which included three hundred hypocrites.[2]

Separation of the Hypocrites:

 The leader of the hypocrites, ꜤAbdullāh b. Ubayy, was outwardly a Muslim but a disbeliever at heart. He initially accompanied the Muslims when they departed from Madinah al-Munawwarah; however, at a place called Shawṭ, he withdrew with his 300 fellows as part of a conspiracy. Thus, the strength of the Islamic army was reduced to 700.[3]

Martyrdom of 70 Companions:

 This was a formidable battle. The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم positioned fifty archers at the rear of the Islamic army and instructed: “Do not leave this position until you receive my command.” In the initial stages of the battle, the Muslims held the upper hand and the disbelievers fled. The archers presumed the battle had ended and that the defeated disbelievers would not return. Consequently, due to this misunderstanding, most of the archers abandoned their post. When the disbelievers saw the rear of the Muslim army undefended, they launched a sudden attack from behind, resulting in chaos. Seventy noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم were martyred; Sayyidunā Amīr Ḥamzah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was also martyred in this very battle.[4]

Injury to the Blessed Face of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

 During this battle, the radiant face of the Leader of the Prophets صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was injured, and a small edge of one of his blessed front teeth was also martyred.[5]

The love of the noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم for the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم requires no proof. When the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was injured and rested upon the ground, restlessness spread in every direction. The noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم were unable to catch a glimpse of him صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Meanwhile, Satan spread a rumour that (مَعَاذَاللہ) the Beloved Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had been martyred. This report shook the warriors.[6]

Devotion of the noble Companions:

Later, when the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stood up and everyone realised the news of his martyrdom was false, the disbelievers unleashed a stream of arrows towards him. Sayyidunā Abū Dujānah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ became a shield in front of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Sayyidunā Ziyād b. Sakan رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ advanced with a few of the Anṣār; they sacrificed their lives but did not allow anyone to approach the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.[7]

In short, the noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم displayed such tales of self‑sacrifice during the Battle of Uhud that they continue to shine brightly upon the pages of history today.