2nd year English notes | The Battle of Uhud

After the humiliating defeat at the battle of Badar, the Quraish wanted to take revenge for their earlier defeat in order to teach a lesson to the Muslims. For that purpose, they composed an army of 3, 000 warriors who marched towards the sacred city of Madina.
Abu Sufyan served as their leader. The force was not only armed with war weapons but their women also accompanied them to raise their morale by singing inspirational songs. Along with the wisest warriors, every adult was also a competent part of the force.

Answer:
Although Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was the wisest among all but he always preferred to take advice from his companions on most of the matters. When he (S.A.W.W) heard the news of the multitude of Quraish approaching Madina, he consulted his companions of war strategy.

With regard to the best course of action to be taken against the strength of the enemy, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was of the opinion of staying in Madina and let the enemy besiege the city.

By proposing the strategy of enemy besieging the city of Madina, it was in the mind of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) that the Muslims were far shorter than the huge army of Quraish, so if the city would be besieged by the enemies, they must have to split their force in order to deploy at various places. As a result of this, it would place Muslims at a better position to attack at the place where the concentration of the enemy was the weakest.

In order to give a relentless blow of defeat to the Quraish once again, the Muslims formed two groups possessing and presenting their own opinions. One group comprising of Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) and some other wiser ones were of the opinion to stay in Madina and let the Quraish besiege the city. On the other hand, the second group was of young enthusiastic individuals who wanted to save the city and stop the army outside Madina and let the war initiate at the open place.

Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) knew it quite well that regarding the defensive strategy, his point of view would prove to be the best one in favor of the Muslims to defeat the army of Quraish. Although he (S.A.W.W) was reluctant to leave Madina just to give weight to the decision of the fervent young ones to keep the army away from Madina, he made the final verdict to confront the enemy in the open field outside Madina.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) congregated 1,000 persons to take part in the battle of Uhud. When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) gave orders to his soldiers to march towards the battlefield, 300 of the individuals proved to be hypocrites so they refused to take part in the fight. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) then had the strength of 700 persons only. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) wisely arranged the army in such a manner that Muslim warriors took positions on the rising top at Uhud. He also ordered a band of archers to take a position at a joining mound and do not leave the position at any cost without taking permission from him.

Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was only a great ruler but also proved to be an excellent commander and war planner. After giving the description of their places, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) elucidated the duty and responsibility to the warriors and band of archers that had to take up positions on and at the adjoining mound of Uhud. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) instructed the band of archers not to leave their posts under any circumstances; they win or lose, without his consent.

Wealth has such a charisma that sometimes it just makes the person blind. In other words, one can say that greed is lust. The same happened with the obedient Muslims too. On observing the Quraish retreating in defeat they forgot the orders and instructions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) to stay at their place. The archers left their posts hurriedly in order to collect booty with other Muslims.

The course of the battle changed quite dramatically and unexpectedly. When the band of archers showed their greediness towards wealth or weapons by leaving their positions without the approval of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W), Khalid bin Waleed (commander of the Quraish army) took advantage of this situation. He rushed with his cavalry and attacked from behind killing ten of the Muslims. They were now in a better position to surround and attack the Muslims not only from the rear but from the front too.

Among many others, a sahabi Mas’ab bin Omair (R.A) fought bravely with the enemies but fell at last. He had some physical resemblance with the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W). When the Quraish saw him dead, they shouted ecstatically that Muhammad (S.A.W.W) had been killed. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) while fighting with the army was wounded and fell in a pit where other dead bodies of his followers were lying too. This was the confusion that generated due to the resemblance of Ma’sab bin Omair (R.A) with the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W).

Hazrat Ali (R.A) the son-in-law, cousin, and passionate companion of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was the one who noticed the absence of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) first from the battlefield. He started searching him around the place where he saw the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) last. When he reached there, he saw the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) lying in a pit. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was wounded during the fight that’s why it was quite difficult for him to come out of the pit by himself so Hazrat Ali (R.A) with the help of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) and Hazrat Umar (R.A) took him out of the pit. Then the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was safely lead to a safer place away from the battlefield.

After getting hurt, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) had to take a decision to send someone for the counter-attack as the battle was still going on between the Muslims and the army of Quraish. Hazrat Ali (R.A) received the honor of performing that job and showing his passion for the grandeur of Islam. Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) gave him the responsibility as he knew it well that Hazrat Ali (R.A) was not only ardent to have a fight with the enemy but had the valor to bash the army courageously too.

While combating violently with the force of Quraish with full zeal and zest, Hazrat Ali (R.A) broke his sword. On knowing this, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) ordered someone to take his sword and give it to Hazrat Ali (R.A) to continue the fight. From then onwards, the fierce attack of the Muslims forced the enemy to move back from the battlefield.

Abu Sufyan who was the commander of the army of Quraish although felt ashamed by the defeat but he tried to conceal his disgrace of crush by giving it another look. At the time of leaving the battlefield, he showed off by saying that we have taken our revenge from the Muslims for the defeat at the battle of Badar and he gave a threat to that next time when we face any confrontation with the Muslims, we would completely obliterate them.

The blunder of the archers was a tactical mistake from the strategic point of view. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) deployed the band of archers at the mound which was an important post for their defense from the enemy. They had to stay there under all circumstances as per the directions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W). The act of leaving their post till the next order from the commander resulted in a heavy loss which changed the outcome of the battle.

It is not a wise act to disobey the instructions of your leader; otherwise, sometimes you have to face an unfavorable outcome. After leaving the post and observing its result in the form of chaos, the companions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) learned from the battle of Uhud a valuable lesson not to disobey the instructions of their leader whatever the circumstance is. They never even think of disobeying the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) in the future.

The Quraish, one of the notable tribes of Arab were against the propagation of Islam since its emergence. They were not only against the principles of Islam but also tried to create problems for the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) and his companions in the spread of Islam to the other parts of Arabia. The battle of Badr was the first battle that was fought between the Muslims and the Quraish in 2 Hijri.

In this battle, the Muslims got victory over the Quraish. Seventy warriors of Quraish were killed by the iron hand of the Muslims. It was quite difficult for the Quraish to forget that crushing defeat in the battle of Badr and they were burning over it. In order to take revenge from the Muslims, the Quraish launched a war against the Muslims which was fought at the place of Uhud.

It is a common saying that young blood is always enthusiastic and emotional. The same happened at the time of the battle of Uhud. When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) took advice from the council of war about the war strategy, two different groups were formed on the basis of opinions. The old and wise including the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was of the opinion to stay in Madina and let the army besiege the city.

On the other hand, the young ones being poignant and passionate about taking part in the battle put forward their opinion of stopping the enemy outside Madina and must have a battle at an open place. These strategies show that the young are always eager and sometimes they make emotional decisions which lack in attaining high objectives. The old and wiser ones always take the decisions after much deliberation and consultation. The old ones are the experienced people, who have an extensive approach to life’s up and down. Their views always carry weight.

Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) was an excellent commander who possessed the quality of planning well for not only the peace times but under the circumstance of imposed war too. He (S.A.W.W) commanded his companions to occupy the high ground at Uhud because it was the best place from the strategic point of view.

They could easily hit their enemies and defend themselves. The whole movement of the enemy soldiers could easily be noticed. A band of archers was deployed at the mound for defending Muslims at the back.

A fierce battle took place at Uhud between the massive army of Quraish and the shorter number of the Muslims. In the early stage, the battle was in favor of the Muslims, but because of the tactical mistake made by the archers, the battle turned in reverse, and the Quraish came to have the upper hand for a while.

They attacked the Muslims from all sides and many of them were martyred. The Muslims got demoralized when they heard that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) had been killed. They lost courage and were not willing to fight anymore as it was considered of not much importance.

The Quraish when attacked the Muslims from the rear as well as the front, they were quite sure to win the battle. But Hazrat Ali (R.A) commanded the Muslims with such fervor that the Muslims regained their lost hope and fought vigorously with him.

At that moment, the Quraish were unable to take advantage of their short-lived victory because they didn’t get enough time to collect booty from the battlefield and they were forced to leave the battlefield and run back to Makkah empty-handed.

In the beginning, the Muslims fought bravely and got victory over the Quraish. The Quraish had to flee from the battlefield. Seeing the Quraish running in defeat, a band of archers, contrary to the instructions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W), left their post in order to collect booty. The Quraish came back and attacked the Muslims from all sides. There were casualties on both sides. No party could get a clear victory. Thus, it may be called a drawn battle.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W), Sahaba, and the Muslims faced a number of difficulties in propagating Islam on the land of Arabia. Quraish one of the leading and influential tribes of Arabs was against Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) and Islam that’s why on and off they tried to put Muslims and their leader the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) into trouble either physically or morally.
The Muslims were forced to have fights or battles with the ones who oppose Islam.

After the crushing defeat at the battle of Badr, the Quraish wanted to teach a lesson to Muslims in the holy city of Madina. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) appointed a band of archers at the mound of Uhud and advised them not to leave their post without his approval. But the archers left their position in order to collect booty and in this way the Quraish inflict heavy losses on Muslims. If the archers had not left their high post, the Quraish would have been handed another humiliating defeat which definitely has had far-reaching consequences on the future of the Muslims in certain ways as follows:

The Muslims would have an upper hand on the Quraish and other tribes who had a desire to crush Islam and its followers.

. It would make Muslims more strong and confident in terms of wealth and moral support.
. The Muslims would tell the tribes that even having less force or weapons they were strong enough to fight against a massive army just because of their trust and faith in Allah Almighty and his Prophet (S.A.W.W).

So, the Muslims should get a lesson from this battle that whatever the circumstance be they should follow the instructions of their beloved Prophet (S.A.W.W) to get success and peace in not only this impermanent life but in the life hereafter too.