Battle of Uhud

The Battle of Uhud (Arabic: غَزْوَة أُحُد‎, romanized: Ghazwat Uhud) was fought on Saturday, 23 March 625 CE (7 Shawwal, 3 AH),[12][13] in the valley north of Mount Uhud.[14] The Qurayshi Meccans, led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, commanded an army of 3,000 men toward Muhammad's stronghold in Madinah. The battle was the only battle throughout the Muslim–Quraish War in which the Muslims did not manage to defeat their enemy and it came just nine months after the Battle of Badr.

Battle of Uhud
Part of the Muslim–Quraish War

The Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim Army at the Battle of Uhud[1]
Date23 March 625 CE (7 Shawwal, AH 3 (in the ancient (intercalated) Arabic calendar)
Location
Valley by Mount Uhud
Result

Stalemate[2][3][4]

  • Tactical victory to Quraish Mecca
  • Muslims receive significant losses, however the Meccans fail to take Medina.
Belligerents
Muslims of Medina
Jewish Arab tribe of Tha'labah		 Quraish of Mecca
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib †
Musab ibn Umayr  †
Abdullah ibn Jubayr † [5]
Mundhir ibn Amr [5]
Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwām Al-Asadi [5]
'Ubadah ibn al-Samit[6]		 Abu Sufyan
Hind bint Utbah
Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl
'Amr ibn al-'As
Khalid ibn al-Walid
Wahshi ibn Harb
Strength
700 Infantry men (Original strength was 1000 men but Abdullah ibn Ubayy decided to withdraw his 300 men before battle);[7][8] 50 archers, 4 cavalry 3,000 infantry; 3,000 camels, 200 cavalry [9]
Casualties and losses

62[10]-75 killed

or

69 (65 Ansār, 4 Muhājirīn)[11]		 22[10]-35 killed
Battle of Uhud with advanced detailing

Abu Sufyan became the de facto leader of the Quraish after the death of Amr ibn Hishām at Badr nine months prior. Wanting to avenge the Meccan's losses at the Battle of Badr, he marched upon Madinah from Makkah on 10 December 624 CE with a force three times stronger than that of the Meccans at Badr. The Battle of Uhud was the second military encounter between the Meccans and the Muslims and the first one in which the Muslims were on the defensive side. The Muslims readied for war soon afterwards and the two armies fought in the valley below the northern face of Mount Uhud.

Although outnumbered, the Muslims gained the early initiative and forced the Meccan lines back, thus leaving much of the Meccan camp unprotected. When the battle looked to be only one step away from a decisive Muslim victory, a serious mistake was committed by a part of the Muslim army, which altered the outcome of the battle. A breach of Muhammad's orders by the Muslim archers, who left their assigned posts to despoil the Meccan camp, allowed a surprise attack from the Meccan cavalry, led by Meccan war veteran Khalid ibn al-Walid, which brought chaos to the Muslim ranks. Many Muslims were killed, and Muhammad himself was severely injured. The Muslims had to withdraw up the slopes of Uhud. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further but marched back to Mecca declaring victory. For the Muslims, the battle was a significant setback. Although they had been close to routing the Meccans a second time, their breach of Muhammad's orders in favor of collecting Meccan spoils reaped severe consequences. The two armies would meet again in 627 CE at the Battle of the Trench,[15] in which the Muslims would, yet again, have to defend Madinah from the Meccans and others.

Background

At the Battle of Badr in March 624 CE,[16] the Meccans lost 140 of their men (70 were killed, while another 70 were taken captive) including Amr ibn Hishām, Muhammad's antagonist, who led the army at Badr against the Muslims. Muslims consider Muhammad's victory at Badr was caused due to divine intervention and the Muslims during Muhammad's time believed they were assured such victories in the future.[17] After the death of several important leaders at Badr, the leadership of the Quraysh passed to Abu Sufyan who forbade the mourning of the losses at Badr. Eager to exact revenge upon Muhammad, he vowed to conduct a retaliatory raid on the city of Madinah. Several months later, Abu Sufyan accompanied a party of 200 men to the city, obtaining temporary residence with the chief of the Jewish tribe, Banu Nadir, and learning more about the situation in Madinah. He and his party then left Madinah, burning down two houses and laying waste to some fields in fulfillment of his vow. Further skirmishes between the Meccans and the Muslims would occur thereafter.[18] A few months later, Abu Sufyan gathered a combined force of over 3,000 men to retaliate against the Muslims for the losses at Badr.[19]

Battle
Mount Uhud seen from cemetery of Uhud martyrs
Muslim archers positioned on a hill during the Battle of Uhud, as depicted in Moustapha Akkad's 1976 film The Message

Meccan march to Madinah
Ravine of Mount Uhud (bifurcated mount just seen below in line of tower structure) where Muhammed was taken for rest after injury

At the head of a 3,000-strong army, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb set forth toward Madinah to avenge the Meccans' defeat at Badr. they encamped on the pastures north of the city, hoping that the Muslims would come out to meet them.[20][21] According to the early Muslim historian Ibn Ishaq, a number of Meccan women are said to have accompanied Abu Sufyan's army to boost their morale, including Hind bint 'Utbah, Abu Sufyan's wife.[22]

A scout alerted Muhammad of the Meccan army's presence and numbers late on Thursday, 20 December 624 CE. The next morning, a Muslim council-of-war convened, and there was dispute over how to best repel the Meccans. Muhammad and many of the senior figures suggested that it would be safer to fight within Medina and take advantage of its heavily fortified strongholds. Younger Muslims argued that the Meccans were destroying their crops, and that huddling in the strongholds would destroy Muslim prestige. Muhammad eventually conceded to the wishes of the latter, and readied the Muslim force for battle.

Muslim encampment at Uhud

A group of approximately 1,000 Muslim men set out northward from Madinah toward Mount Uhud late on Friday, 21 December 624 CE. Early the next morning, they took a position on the lower slopes of the hill of Uhud. Shortly before the battle commenced, 'Abdallah ibn Ubayy, chief of the Khazraj, along with 300 other men, withdrew their support for Muhammad and returned to Medina, with reports suggesting Ibn Ubayy's discontent with the plan to march out from Madinah to meet the Meccans. Ibn Ubayy and his followers would later receive censure in the Qur'an for this act.[23]

What ye suffered on the day the two armies met, was with the leave of Allah, in order that He might test the believers. And in order that He might test the Hypocrites also, these were told: "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (the foe from your city)." They said: "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you." They were that day nearer to Disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts but Allah hath full knowledge of all they conceal. (They are) the ones that say, of their brethren slain, while they themselves sit (at ease): "If only they had listened to us they would not have been slain." Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if ye speak the truth."

— Qur'an, Surah 3 (Al Imran), Ayah 166–168[24]

The Muslim force, now numbering around 700 encamped on the slopes of Uhud, facing Madinah, with their rear protected by the mountain. Before the battle, Muhammad had assigned 50 archers on a nearby rocky hill at the west side of the Muslim camp. This was a strategic decision in order to shield the vulnerable flanks of the outnumbered Muslim army; the archers on the hill were to protect the left flank, while the right flank was to be protected by the Mount of Uhud situated on the east side of the Muslim camp. Protecting the flanks of the Muslim army meant that the Meccan army would not be able to turn around the Muslim camp, and thus the Muslim army wouldn't be surrounded or encircled by the Meccan cavalry, keeping in mind that the Meccan cavalry outnumbered the Muslim cavalry with 50-to-1. Muhammad ordered the Muslim archers to not leave their positions on the hill unless ordered to do so by him, making it clear by uttering these words to the archers,

"If you see us prevail and start to take spoils, do not come to assist us. And if you see us get vanquished and birds eat from our heads, do not come to assist us."[25]

The Duels

The Meccan army positioned itself facing the Muslim lines, with the main body led by Abu Sufyan, and the left and right flanks commanded by Ikrimah ibn Abu Jahl, son of Amr ibn Hishām and Khalid ibn al-Walid, respectively. 'Amr ibn al-'As was commander of the cavalry and his task was to coordinate the attack between the cavalry wings.[26][27] They attacked with their initial charge led by the Medinan exile Abu ‘Amir. Thwarted by a shower of stones from the Muslims, Abu ‘Amir and his men were forced to retreat to the camps behind the Meccan lines. The Meccan standard-bearerTalhah ibn Abi Talhah al-‘Abdari, advanced and challenged the enemy to a duel. Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad, rushed forth and struck Talhah down in a single blow. Talhah's brother, Uthman, ran forward to pick up the fallen banner — the Meccan women willing him on with songs and the loud beating of timbrels. Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib emerged from the Muslim ranks, bringing him to a similar fate as Talhah. It was their family that was responsible for the Meccan army's standard-bearing, and thus one by one, Talhah's brothers and sons went to retrieve the Meccan banner and fight unsuccessfully, until they all eventually perished.[28] Following the duels, general engagement between the two armies commenced. Meccan confidence quickly began to dissolve as the Muslims swept through their ranks.

Meccan retreat and counter-attack

The Meccan army was pushed back, and repeated attempts by its cavalry to overrun the left Muslim flank were negated by the Muslim archers.[29] Enjoying the best of these early encounters, the Muslims pierced through the Meccan lines, with victory appearing certain. However, it was the detachment of the Muslim archers, disobeying Muhammad's strict orders to remain stationary, that would shift the outcome of the battle, as most of them ran downhill to join in the advance and despoil the Meccan camp, leaving the flank vulnerable.[20][27]

At this critical juncture, the Meccan cavalry, led by Khalid ibn al-Walid, exploited this move and attacked the remaining minority of Muslim archers who refused to disobey Muhammad's orders and were still positioned on the hill. From there, the Meccans were then able to target and overrun the Muslim flank and rear. Confusion ensued, and numerous Muslims were killed.[20][27] The most notable of the killed Muslims was Hamza, who had been thrown down in a surprise attack by the javelin of the Ethiopian slave of Jubayr ibn Mut'im, Wahshi ibn Harb. While the Meccan riposte strengthened, rumors circulated that Muhammad too had perished. It emerged, however, that Muhammad had only been wounded—due to missiles of stone which resulted in a gash on his forehead and lip. It is recorded that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib alone remained, fending off the assaults of Khalid's cavalrymen. According to Ibn Atheer,

"The Prophet became the object of the attack of various units of the army of Quraish from all sides. Ali attacked, in compliance with Muhammad's orders, every unit that made an attack upon him and dispersed them or killed some of them, and this thing took place a number of times in Uhud."[30]

After fierce hand-to-hand combat, most of the Muslims managed to withdraw and regroup higher up on the slopes of Uhud. A small faction was cut off and tried to make its way back to Medina, though many of these were killed. The Meccans' chief offensive arm, its cavalry, was unable to ascend the slopes of Uhud in pursuit of the Muslims, and so the fighting ceased. Hind and her companions are said to have mutilated the Muslim corpses, cutting off their ears and noses and making them into anklets. Hind is reported to have cut open the corpse of Hamza, taking out his liver which she then attempted to eat.[31] Abu Sufyan, after some brief verbal exchanges with Muhammad's companion, Ibn Ishaq records this exchange as follows:

When (the Qurayshi leader) Abu Sufyan wanted to leave, he went to the top of the mountain and shouted loudly, saying, "You have done a fine work. Victory in war goes by turns: today is in exchange for the day of Badr. Show your superiority, Hubal", that is, vindicate your religion. The Messenger told Umar to go up and answer him and say, "God is most high and most glorious. We are not equal: our dead are in paradise, yours are in hell." At this answer Abu Sufyan said to Umar, "Come up here to me." The Messenger told him to go and see what Abu Sufyan was up to. When he came Abu Sufyan said, "I adjure you by God, Umar, have we killed Muhammad?" "By God, you have not, he is listening to what you are saying right now", Umar replied. Abu Sufyan said, "I regard you as more truthful and reliable than Ibn Qami'a", referring to the latter's claim that he had killed Muhammad.

— cf. Ibn Ishaq (1955) 380—388, cited in Peters (1994) p. 219

</ref> decided to return to Mecca without pressing his advantage.[20][27]

The battle is generally believed by scholars to be a defeat for the Muslims, as they had incurred greater losses than the Meccans. Chase F. Robinson, writing in the Encyclopaedia of Islam, states the notion that "the Muslims suffered a disheartening defeat is clear enough."[20] Other scholars such as William Montgomery Watt disagree, noting that while the Muslims did not win, the Meccans had failed to achieve their strategic aim of destroying Muhammad and his followers; and that the Meccans' untimely withdrawal indicated weakness on their part.[32] The battle is also noted for the emergence of the military leadership and stratagem of Khalid ibn al-Walid, who would later become the most famous of all Arab generals during the Islamic expansion era, in conquering the Sassanid Empire and Byzantine-held Syria.[33]

Aftermath
Grave of Hamza near Mount Uhud

Muhammad and the Muslims buried the dead on the battlefield, returning home that evening. The Meccans retired for the evening at a place called Hamra al-Asad, a few miles away from Medina. The next morning, Muhammad sent out a small force to harass the Meccan army on their way home. According to Watt, this was because Muhammad realized that a show of force was required to speed the Meccans away from Medinan territory. The Meccans, not wanting to be perceived as being chased away, remained nearby for a few days before leaving.[34]

Muslim reaction

For the Muslims, the battle held a religious dimension as well as a military one. They had expected another victory like at Badr, which was considered a sign of God's favor upon them. At Uhud, however, they had barely held off the invaders and had lost a great many men. A verse of the Qur'an revealed soon after the battle cited the Muslims' disobedience and desire for loot as the cause for this setback:[15][35]

Allah did indeed fulfil His promise to you when he with His permission Were about to annihilate your enemy,-until he flinched and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed it after He brought you in sight (of the booty) which he covet. Among you are some that hanker after this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then did He divert you from your foes in order to test you but He forgave you: For Allah is full of grace to those who believe.

— Qur'an, sura 3 (Al Imran), ayah 152[36]

According to the Qur'an, then, the misfortunes at Uhud — largely the result of the rear guard abandoning their position in order to seek booty — were partly a punishment and partly a test for steadfastness.[35] Firestone observes that such verses provided inspiration and hope to the Muslims, sacralizing future battles that they would experience. He adds that rather than demoralizing the Muslims, the battle seemed to reinforce the solidarity between them.[37]

Further conflict

Abu Sufyan, whose position as leader was no longer disputed, set about forging alliances with surrounding nomadic tribes in order to build up strength for another advance on Medina. The success of the Meccans' rousing of tribes against Muhammad reaped disastrous consequences for him and the Muslims with two main losses: one was where a Muslim party had been invited by a chieftain of the Ma'unah tribe, who were then killed as they approached by the tribe of Sulaym; while the other was when the Muslims had sent out instructors to a tribe which stated it wanted to convert to Islam — the instructors had been led into an ambush by the guides of the would-be Muslim tribe, and were subsequently killed.[38] Soon thereafter, Muhammad became convinced that the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir harbored enmity towards him and were plotting to kill him. The Banu Nadir were expelled from Medina after a fifteen-day siege, with some relocating to the oasis of Khaybar and others to Syria.[39] Abu Sufyan, along with the allied confederate tribes, would attack Medina in the Battle of the Trench, two years after the events at Uhud (in 627).[15]

Islamic primary sources

Quran

The event is mentioned in the Quranic verse [Quran 8:36] according to the Muslim scholar Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri,[40] as well as [Quran 3:122], [Quran 3:167].[41]

The Muslim Mufassir Ibn Kathir's commentary on this verse in his book Tafsir ibn Kathir is as follows:

Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Az-Zuhri, Muhammad bin Yahya bin Hibban, `Asim bin `Umar bin Qatadah, and Al-Husayn bin `Abdur-Rahman bin `Amr bin Sa`id bin Mu`adh said, "The Quraysh suffered defeat at Badr and their forces went back to Makkah, while Abu Sufyan went back with the caravan intact. This is when `Abdullah bin Abi Rabi`ah, `Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, Safwan bin Umayyah and other men from Quraysh who lost their fathers, sons or brothers in Badr, went to Abu Sufyan bin Harb. They said to him, and to those among the Quraysh who had wealth in that caravan, `O people of Quraysh! Muhammad has grieved you and killed the chiefs among you. Therefore, help us with this wealth so that we can fight him, it may be that we will avenge our losses.' They agreed. Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "This Ayah was revealed about them, according to Ibn `Abbas,

(Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth...) until, (they who are the losers.)

Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hakam bin `Uyaynah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Abza said that this Ayah was revealed about Abu Sufyan and his spending money in Uhud to fight the Messenger of Allah. Ad-Dahhak said that this Ayah was revealed about the idolators of Badr. In any case, the Ayah is general, even though there was a specific incident that accompanied its revelation. Allah states here that the disbelievers spend their wealth to hinder from the path of truth. However, by doing that, their money will be spent and then will become a source of grief and anguish for them, availing them nothing in the least. They seek to extinguish the Light of Allah and make their word higher than the word of truth. However, Allah will complete His Light, even though the disbelievers hate it. He will give aid to His religion, make His Word dominant, and His religion will prevail above all religions. This is the disgrace that the disbelievers will taste in this life; and in the Hereafter, they will taste the torment of the Fire. Whoever among them lives long, will witness with his eyes and hear with his ears what causes grief to him. Those among them who are killed or die will be returned to eternal disgrace and the everlasting punishment.

— Ibn Kathir on Quran 8:36[42]

Hadith

Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri mentions that this incident is also mentioned in the Sunni hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari.[43] Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:276 mentions:

The Prophet appointed 'Abdullah bin Jubair as the commander of the infantry men (archers) who were fifty on the day (of the battle) of Uhud. He instructed them, "Stick to your place, and don't leave it even if you see birds snatching us, till I send for you; and if you see that we have defeated the infidels and made them flee, even then you should not leave your place till I send for you." Then the infidels were defeated. By Allah, I saw the women fleeing lifting up their clothes revealing their leg-bangles and their legs. So, the companions of 'Abdullah bin Jubair said, "The booty! O people, the booty ! Your companions have become victorious, what are you waiting for now?" 'Abdullah bin Jubair said, "Have you forgotten what Allah's Apostle said to you?" They replied, "By Allah! We will go to the people (i.e. the enemy) and collect our share from the war booty." But when they went to them, they were forced to turn back defeated. At that time Allah's Apostle in their rear was calling them back. Only twelve men remained with the Prophet and the infidels martyred seventy men from us.

— Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:276

It is also mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:30:108 that Quran verse [Quran 4:88] was revealed about this event:

When the Prophet went out for (the battle of) Uhud, some of his companions (hypocrites) returned (home). A party of the believers remarked that they would kill those (hypocrites) who had returned, but another party said that they would not kill them. So, this Divine Inspiration was revealed: "Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties concerning the hypocrites." (4.88) The Prophet said, "Medina expels the bad persons from it, as fire expels the impurities of iron."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:30:108

The event is also mentioned in Sahih Muslim, 4:2050

Biographical literature

This event is mentioned in Ibn Ishaq's biography of Muhammad.[42] Most of the information available about the events is derived from the sira—maghazi traditions (biographical narratives and documentation of military campaigns) of the early centuries of Islam. The general sequence of the events gained consensus early on, as demonstrated in the text of Ibn Ishaq, an early biographer of Muhammad. Accounts of the battle are derived mainly from descendants of the participants. Much of the basic narrative and chronology, according to Robinson, is reasonably authentic, although some of the more elaborate details — such as the exact scale of the Muslim defeat — may be doubtful or difficult to ascertain.[20]

Names of the Muslims killed

Ibn al-Athir gives the names of 85 Muslims killed in the battle of Uhud. Of these, 75 were Medinans (43 from the Banu Khazraj and 32 from the Banu Aws) and 10 were Muhajirun (Emigrants) from Mecca. Moreover, 46 of the 85 martyrs of Uhud had also participated in the earlier battle of Badr. The names of the martyrs of Uhud (in Arabic alphabetical order) are:[44]

  1. Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib
  2. Anas bin an-Nadr al-Khazrajī
  3. Unays bin Qatādah bin Rabī‘ah al-Badrī al-Awsī
  4. Aws bin al-Arqam al-Khazrajī
  5. Aws bin Thābit bin al-Mundhir al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  6. Iyās bin Aws al-Badrī al-Awsī
  7. Thābit bin ‘Amr bin Zayd al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  8. Thābit bin Waqsh al-Awsī
  9. Tha‘labah bin Sa‘d al-Khazrajī
  10. Thaqf bin Farwah al-Khazrajī
  11. al-Hārith bin Aws bin Mu‘ādh al-Badrī al-Awsī
  12. al-Hārith bin‘Adī bin Kharashah al-Khazrajī
  13. al-Hārith bin ‘Uqbah bin Qābūs al-Muhājirī
  14. Hubāb bin Qayzī al-Awsī
  15. Habīb bin Zayd bin Tamīm al-Awsī
  16. Husayl bin Jābir al-Awsī, Abū Hudhayfa al-Yamān (father of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman)
  17. Hanzala bin Abī ‘Āmir al-Awsī
  18. al-Hārith bin Anas bin Rāfi‘ al-Badrī al-Awsī
  19. Khārijah bin Zayd bin Abī Zuhayr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  20. Khidāsh bin Qatādah al-Badrī al-Awsī
  21. Khallād bin ‘Amr bin al-Jamūh al-Badrī, al-Khazrajī
  22. Khaythama bin al-Hārith al-Awsī
  23. Dhakwān bin ‘Abdi Qays al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  24. Rāfi‘, mawla Ghaziyya bin ‘Amr al-Khazraj
  25. Rāfi‘ bin Mālik al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  26. Rifā‘ah bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  27. Rifā‘ah bin Waqsh al-Awsī
  28. Zayd bin Wadī‘ah al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  29. Subay‘ bin Hātib al-Awsī
  30. Sa‘d al-Badrī, mawla Hātib bin Abī Balta‘ah al-Badrī al-Muhājirī
  31. Sa‘d bin ar-Rabī‘ bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  32. Sa‘īd bin Suwayd al-Khazrajī
  33. Salamah bin Thābit bin Waqsh al-Badrī al-Awsī
  34. Sulaym bin al-Hārith al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  35. Sulaym bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  36. Sahl bin Rūmī al-Awsī
  37. Sahl bin ‘Adī bin Zayd al-Awsī
  38. Sahl bin Qays bin Abī Ka‘b al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  39. Shammās bin ‘Uthmān al-Badrī al-Muhājirī
  40. Sayfī bin Qayzī al-Awsī
  41. Damrah bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  42. Qurrah bin ‘Uqba al-Awsī
  43. Qays bin ‘Amr bin Zayd al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  44. Qays bin Mukhallad al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  45. Kaysān, mawla Banī ‘Adī bin an-Najjār al-Khazrajī
  46. ‘Āmir bin Umayya al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  47. ‘Āmir bin Mukhallad al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  48. ‘Āmir bin Yazīd bin as-Sakan al-Awsī
  49. ‘Abbād bin Sahl al-Awsī
  50. ‘Ubbād bin al-Khashkhāsh al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  51. ‘Abbās bin ‘Ubāda al-Khazrajī
  52. ‘AbdAllāh bin Jubayr al-Badrī al-Awsī
  53. ‘AbdAllāh bin Jahsh al-Badrī al-Muhājirī
  54. ‘AbdAllāh bin Salamah al-Badrī al-Awsī
  55. ‘AbdAllāh bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī (father of Jabir ibn Abd-Allah)
  56. ‘AbdAllāh bin ‘Amr bin Wahb al-Khazrajī
  57. ‘Ubayd bin at-Tayyihān al-Badrī al-Awsī
  58. ‘Ubayd bin al-Mu‘allā al-Khazrajī
  59. ‘Utbah bin Rabī‘ bin Rāfi‘ al-Khazrajī
  60. ‘Aqrabah al-Juhanī, Abū Bashīr al-Muhājirī
  61. ‘Umārah bin Ziyād bin as-Sakan al-Badrī al-Awsī
  62. ‘Amr bin Thābit bin Waqsh al-Awsī
  63. ‘Amr bin al-Jamūh al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  64. ‘Amr bin Qays bin Zayd al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  65. ‘Amr bin Mutarrif al-Khazrajī
  66. ‘Amr bin Mu‘ādh al-Badrī al-Awsī
  67. ‘Antarah as-Sulamī al-Badrī, mawla Sulaym bin ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  68. Mālik bin Iyās al-Khazrajī
  69. Mālik bin Khalaf al-Muhājirī
  70. Mālik bin Sinān al-Khazrajī (father of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri)
  71. Mālik bin Numaylah al-Badrī al-Awsī
  72. al-Mujadhdhar bin Ziyād al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  73. Mus‘ab bin ‘Umayr al-Badrī al-Muhājirī
  74. Nu‘mān bin Khalaf al-Muhājirī
  75. Nu‘mān bin ‘Abdi ‘Amr al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  76. Nu‘mān bin Mālik al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  77. Nawfal bin ‘Abdillāh al-Badrī al-Khazrajī
  78. Wahb bin Qābūs al-Muhājirī
  79. Yazīd bin Hātib al-Awsī
  80. Yazīd bin as-Sakan al-Badrī al-Awsī
  81. Yasār, mawla Abi’l Haytham bin at-Tayyihān al-Awsī
  82. Abū Ayman, mawla of ‘Amr bin al-Jamūh al-Khazrajī
  83. Abū Habbah bin ‘Amr bin Thābit al-Badrī al-Awsī
  84. Abū Sufyān bin al-Hārith al-Awsī (not the Meccan Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith)
  85. Abū Hubayrah bin al-Hārith al-Khazrajī

Note that:[44]

  • Al-Badri = veteran of Badr
  • Al-Khazraji = tribesman of the Banu Khazraj
  • Al-Awsi = tribesman of the Banu Aws
  • Al-Muhajiri = emigrant from Mecca

Importance in warfare

Muhammad showed his ability as a general by choosing the battlefield of Uhud. He decided according to the will of Muslims to fight in open country but was aware of the superior mobility of the Meccans. He knew that an encounter in open country would expose the infantry wings to envelopment and neutralize the Meccan mobility factor

Thus, he decided to hold high ground with Mount Uhud in their rear, which provided security from any attack from the rear. Moreover, as the front was of approximately of 800 to 900 yd (730 to 820 m)[45] and on one flank, he rested Mount Einein and on other flank were the defiles of Mount Uhud and so, in military language, he refused both wings to the Meccan cavalry. The only approach from which they could be taken from the rear was protected by the deployment of archers.[46]

Modern references

The battle of Uhud is the second of the two main battles featured in Moustapha Akkad's 1976 film centering on the life of Muhammad, Mohammad, Messenger of God. The other battle featured is the battle of Badr.[47] The battle of Uhud is also depicted in the 2004 animated film, Muhammad: The Last Prophet, directed by Richard Rich,[48] and in the 2012 TV series Farouk Omar. The cave in Mount Uhud where Muhammad rested temporarily during the battle has also received recent media attention in the light of proposals by some Salafi scholars for it to be destroyed.[49]

See also

Notes

    References
    1. Miniature from volume 4 of a copy of Mustafa al-Darir’s Siyar-i Nabi (Life of the Prophet). "The Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim Army at the Battle of Uhud", Turkey, Istanbul; c. 1594 Leaf: 37.3 × 27 cm Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine David Collection.
    2. Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah (1992), The Battlefields of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, p. 111, ISBN 81-7151-153-8.
    3. Peter Crawford (2013-07-16), The War of the Three Gods: Romans, Persians and the Rise of Islam, Pen & Sword Books Limited, p. 83, ISBN 9781473828650.
    4. William Montgomery Watt (1956), Muhammad at Medina, p. 27.
    5. Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah, History of Islam, Vol.1, p. 171
    6. Gil, Moshe (1997-02-27). Ibn Sa'd, 1(1), 147 VII(2), 113f, Baladhuri, Tarikh Tabari, 1 2960, Muqaddasi, Muthir, 25f; Ibn Hisham, 311. Cambridge University press. p. 119. ISBN 0521599849. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
    7. Karen Armstrong (2001), Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet, p. 185, ISBN 978-1-84212-608-0
    8. Lesley Hazleton, The First Muslim.
    9. Karen Armstrong (2001), Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet, p. 186, ISBN 978-1-84212-608-0
    10. Karen Armstrong (2001), Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet, p. 187, ISBN 978-1-84212-608-0
    11. Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah, History of Islam, Vol.1, p. 177
    12. Jones, J. M. B. (1957). "The Chronology of the "Mag̱ẖāzī"-- A Textual Survey". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 19 (2): 245–280. doi:10.1017/S0041977X0013304X. ISSN 0041-977X. JSTOR 610242.
    13. Safi-ur Rahman Mubarakpuri (1996). The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet. Riyadh. p. 247.
    14. Watt (1974) p. 136.
    15. Cambridge History of Islam 1A (1977) pp. 47–48.
    16. Peters (1994) pp. 211—214.
    17. Watt (1974) pp. 142—143.
    18. Watt (1974) pp. 132—135.
    19. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 181. (online)
    20. "Uhud", Encyclopedia of Islam Online.
    21. Watt (1974) p. 135.
    22. Guillaume 813.
    23. Watt (1974) p. 137.
    24. Quran 3:166–168
    25. Review: The lesson of Uhud defeat (in Arabic)
    26. Muir; Weir (1912) p. 258.
    27. Watt (1974) pp. 138—139.
    28. Muir; Weir (1912) p. 259.
    29. Muir; Weir (1912) p. 260.
    30. Syed, Akramulla (14 December 2017). "History of Islam and Muslims, The second battle of Islam at Uhud, Battle of Ohod". Islamic Occasions. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    31. Ibn Ishaq (1955) 380—388, cited in Peters (1994) p. 218.
    32. See:
      • Cambridge History of Islam 1A (1977) pp. 47—48
      • Firestone (1999) p.132
    33. See:
      • Andrae; Menzel (1960) p. 150;
      • Nafziger; Walton (2000) pp. 16–18;
      • Watt (1974) p. 200
    34. See:
      • Watt (1981) p. 432;
      • An early Muslim historian, al-Waqidi, records 'Amr ibn al-'As (a Meccan commander) as saying:
        When we renewed the attack against them, we smote a certain number of them, and they scattered in every direction, but later a party of them rallied. Quraysh then took counsel together and said, The victory is ours, let us depart. For we had heard that Ibn Ubayy had retired with a third of the force, and some of the Aws and the Khazraj had stayed away from the battle, and we were not sure that they would not attack us. Moreover we had a number of wounded, and all our horses had been wounded by the arrows. So they set off. We had not reached ar-Rawha until a number of them came against us and we continued on our way.
        — cited in Peters (1994) p. 219.
    35. Watt (1974) p. 144.
    36. Quran 3:152
    37. Firestone (1999) p. 132.
    38. Watt (1974) pp. 147—148.
    39. Nadir, Banu-l. Encyclopedia of Islam Online.
    40. Safi-ur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri (1996). The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet. Riyadh. p. 245.
    41. Safi-ur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri (1996). The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet. Riyadh. pp. 251–2.
    42. Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman, Tafsir Ibn Kathir Juz' 9 (Part 9): Al-A'Raf 88 to Al-Anfal 40, p. 226, MSA Publication Limited, 2009, ISBN 1861795750. (online)
    43. Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, p. 296 (footnote 2).
    44. Noormuhammad, Siddiq Osman (December 2003). "Muslim Martyrs of the Battle of Uhud". Iqra Islamic Publications. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    45. Akram, Agha Ibrahim (2004), Khalid bin al-Waleed – His Life and Campaigns, Oxford University Press: Pakistan, ISBN 0-19-597714-9
    46. JustIslam. "The Battle of Uhud". Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    47. Review: The Message. Mark Campbell, 24 April 2004.
    48. "Muhammad The Last Prophet": A Movie Below Expectations Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. IslamOnline.
    49. "Call to destroy Uhud cave rejected". ArabNews. 23 January 2006. Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2007.
    Books and journals
    • Andrae, Tor; Menzel, Theophil (1960). Mohammed: The Man and His Faith. New York: Harper Torchbook. OCLC 871364.
    • Firestone, Rueven (1999). Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-512580-0.
    • Holt, P. M.; Bernard Lewis (1977a). Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1A. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-29136-4.
    • I. Ishaq & A. Guillaume (October 2002). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford University Press, USA; New Impression edition. ISBN 0-19-636033-1.
    • Muir, William; Weir, T. H. (1912). The Life of Mohammad. Edinburgh: John Grant. OCLC 5754953.
    • Nafziger, George F.; Walton, Mark W. (2003). Islam at War: a history. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 0-275-98101-0.
    • Peters, F.E (1994). Muhammad and the Origins of Islam. Albany: SUNY Press. ISBN 0-7914-1875-8.
    • Watt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press.
    • Watt, W. Montgomery (1961). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
    • Watt, W. Montgomery (1974). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-881078-4
    • Watt, W. Montgomery (1981). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press; New edition. ISBN 0-19-577307-1.
    Encyclopedias

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