The Battle of Uhud
Suggest editBackground
The Battle of Uhud (غزوة أحد) took place on 7 Shawwal, 3 AH (March 625 CE), one year after Badr. The Quraysh, seeking revenge, assembled an army of 3,000 men under Abu Sufyan. The Prophet consulted his companions, and the majority favored meeting the enemy outside Madinah. The Muslim force numbered approximately 1,000, but Abdullah ibn Ubayy (the chief of the hypocrites) withdrew with 300 men before the battle, leaving 700 Muslims to face the Quraysh at Mount Uhud, north of Madinah.
The Battle and the Turning Point
The Prophet stationed fifty archers on a hill with strict orders not to leave their positions under any circumstances. The initial Muslim charge was devastating, and the Quraysh began to retreat. However, when the archers saw the enemy fleeing and the spoils of war being collected, most abandoned their posts against the Prophet's explicit command. Khalid ibn al-Walid, then fighting for the Quraysh, exploited this gap, leading his cavalry around the hill and attacking the Muslims from behind.
Aftermath
The reversal was severe. Seventy Muslims were martyred, including Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle and one of Islam's greatest warriors. The Prophet himself was wounded, losing a tooth and suffering cuts to his face. False reports of the Prophet's death spread across the battlefield, causing further confusion. Despite the setback, the Quraysh did not pursue their advantage and withdrew to Makkah without pressing into Madinah.
Lessons
The Quran devoted over sixty verses (3:121-179) to analyzing Uhud. The key lessons include: obedience to leadership is paramount; love of worldly gain (the spoils) can lead to disaster; setbacks test and purify the community; and even the Prophet's companions are not immune to error. Allah says: 'If a wound has afflicted you, a similar wound has already afflicted the other people. We alternate these days of victory and defeat among people' (3:140). Uhud taught the Muslims that victory comes only from Allah and requires complete discipline and obedience.