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The Battle of Uhud

Anonymous

category: History & Biographies

source: Seerah.net

reads: 32465

... continued from Page 4

God informed the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) of the treacherous plan of the Jews. He went back to Madeenah and ordered to make preparations for war against the Banu an-Nadir. Thus, the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came upon them in Rabi'ul-Awwal, 4 A.H. the siege of Banu an-Nadir lasted for six nights whilst God cast terror in the hearts of the Jews. They requested the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) that if he agreed to spare their lives, they would abandon the city with their belongings except their war implements. The offer was accepted and Banu an-Nadir departed from Madina after destroying their houses and loading all that they could on their camels. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, pp. 190-91)

The Suratul-Hashr (Surah of Exile) in the Qur'an calls attention to the banishment of Banu an-Nadir.

"He it is Who hath cause those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes unto the first exile. Ye deemed not that they would go forth, while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allah. But Allah reached them from a place whereof they reckoned not and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their house with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So learn a lesson. O ye who have eyes!" [Qur'an 59:2]

Many of these exiles settled in Khaybar, the Jewish centre in the north of Hijaz, whereas others went away to the far-off Syria. And the Muslims got rid of that sneaky dark corner of deception in their midst without having to meet the Jews in an open fight. The lands and groves left by the Jews were divided up among the first Makkan emigrants.

THE RAID OF DHAT-UR-RIQ'A

In the fourth year of the Hijrah, the Prophet of God (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) decided to administer a raid into Najd. Together with six companions that included Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, he took refuge from an oasis in that area. The group had to cover the distance mostly on foot, as only one camel was at their service. The incursion was called Dhat-ur-Riq'a as the companions taking part in the expedition had to bandage their injured feet and toes. (Al-Bukhaari, Chap. Expedition of Dhat'ur-Riq'a)

The Prophet's (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) party approached the enemy, but there was no fighting for each feared the other. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) led the prayer of fear in this expedition. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, p. 204)

WHO CAN NOW SAVE YOU?

While the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was on his way back to Madeenah, he stopped and leaned back to take rest under the shade of a thicket of acacia trees after hanging his sword to a branch.

Jabir relates that he was taking a nap along with his friends when they heard the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) calling them. They saw a Bedouin sitting by the side of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and when they went to him, he said, "I was sleeping when this man came and took hold of my sword. As I woke-up, I saw him with the sword drawn over my head and he was asking me, ‘Who can now save you from me?" I replied Allah, Now he is sitting before you." The Prophet did not, however, punish the Bedouin. (Al-Bukhaari, Chap. Expedition of Dhatur-Riq'a)

EXPEDITION WITHOUT FIGHTING

The same year, in Sh'aban, the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) went forth to Badr to keep his appointment with Abu Sufyan at Uhud. He remained at Badr for eight days with a large force waiting arrival of the Makkan army. Abu Sufyan did come out of Makkah to honor his call, but he did not venture to advance more than a few miles in the desert. He pursuaded his men to return since it was a season of drought in which his people were in a bad shape. There was thus no fighting and the Muslims returned with their prestige and morale bolstered higher than before.

The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) undertook another expedition of Dumatul-Jandal a few months later. But the Muslims returned to Madeenah once more without any fighting. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, pp. 209-213)

Footnotes
[7] To get a clear picture of the disposition of troops, see The Battlefield of the Prophet Muhammad, by Dr. Muhammad Hamid Ullah, pp. 24-25.

[8] Uncle of Anas b. Malik, the personal attendant of the Prophet.

[9] Lit. An effort or striving: Fighting in the way of God. It may be defensive or offensive, but solely for a cause just and right.

[10] Bukhari, Battle of Uhud. There is no difference of opinion in regard to burying the martyrs, without washing them, so that they present themselves before God in the condition they were slain. As for the burial service, Imam Malik, Imam Shafe'I and Imam Ahmad do not consider it necessary while Imam Abu Hanifa (and others like Imam Awza'I, Sufyan Thauri, Is'haq b. Ruhuway) say that the burial service should be performed. Imam ahmad also relates a Tradition about the offering of burial service over the martyrs. Bukhari has also related a Traidtion on the authority of ‘Uqbah b. ‘Amir that once the Prophet went to Uhud and recited burial service for the martyrs.