The Battle of Uhud (2)

Ultimately, the Prophet’s counsel and Allah’s grace renewed their resolve, but the Muslim army of 1000 had shrunk by almost a third to 700.

Heading the truncated army, the Prophet marched towards Uhud through a short route leaving the enemy forces in the western part of the area. He descended into the valley of Mount Uhud, all the while keeping his back to the mountain. Thus the enemy stood between the Muslims and Madinah.

Then the Prophet drew up his troops for battle. On Mount Ainain, which later became known as Mount Ramaah, he formed a unit of fifty archers under Abdullah bin Jubaur Al- Ansari , and instructed them to hold back the enemy and guard the backs of the Muslim troops. He stressed that under no circumstances were they to withdraw. They were to await his instructions regardless of which way the battle went.

The pagans also drew up their troops towards the battlefield, marching to the songs and cheers of their own women who whipped up their zeal. Moving through the rows and rattling their tambourines, they sang: “If you go ahead, we shall embrace you, and spread carpets; if you retreat, we shall take offense and be estranged.”

They addressed the standard bearers reminding them of their duty: “Look, Banu Abdul Dar! O defenders of your generation, strike violently with swords.”

Fighting begins

When both armies drew near, the standard bearer of the pagans, the most valiant man of the Quraysh, Talha bin Abi Talha Abdari, came forward on his camel and issued a challenge. He was answered by Zubayr bin Awwam . Zubayr jumped on to Talha’s camel, threw him down to the ground and slew him. “Allahu Akbar!” cried the Prophet , and all his men echoed the cry.

After the first ritual encounter, the two armies set upon each other. Khalid bin Waleed, who was then head of the pagan cavalry, attempted three times to reach the rear. Each time he was pushed back by the shower of arrows launched by the Muslim rear-guards.

The Muslim soldiers concentrated their attack on eleven standard bearers of the pagans until they were all wiped out. As the enemy sank to the ground, the Muslim soldiers hurled themselves against the enemy. They charged into the ranks of the enemy forces and slew them in large numbers. Two Muslims, Abu Dunjana and Hamzah, fought with great prowess, and their heroic feats on the battlefield were to become legendary in Muslim military history.