Setting up the battle of Uhud.

Oasmaan mentioned incidents between Badr and Uhud: minor skirmishes, attack on Medinah by
Abu Sufyaan, Banu Salim
Quraysh began preparing for this battle immediately after Badr due to the loss/calamity of Badr.
Badr was a reconnaissance mission something to save and protect the caravan.
Uhud was a full out, offensive battle. Why are they fighting? 4 reasons:
1. Religious: Animosity and hatred developed by Quraysh polytheists towards Islam/Muslims
2. Social: Revenge, embarrassed at Badr, lost relatives (brothers, uncles, fathers) esp. leaders eg.
Ikrimah, Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyaan
3. Economic: Medinah intersects the trade route, the caravan route from Makkah to Shaam.
Effectively cant trade with Syria. Quraysh can no longer trade between Yemen and Syria.
4. Political: Prophet becoming a political threat, increasing alliances with tribes in Medinah, Islamic
republic is growing.
For all these reasons the Quraysh needed to launch an offensive against the Muslims.
Ibn Ishaaq: As soon as Abu Sufyaan returned with the caravan of Badr and the news of Badr
returned, Abu Sufyaan made up his mind right then that he has to go and fight.
So this was not just a spur of the moment, planned for at least a year.
Badr was 17
th
Ramadan 2
nd
year. Uhud Shawwal of 3
rd
year. Entire year of planning.
Abu Sufyan took with him Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl and Safwaan ibn Umayyah.Why?
Abu Jahl and Umayyah were their most prized leaders; the cream of the crop. Abu Jahl; dont need
to talk about him. Umayyah: famous, owner of Bilal.
Takes their 2 sons and goes knocking on the doors of everyone who contributed to the caravan of
Badr, everyone who gave money for the caravan We need your money back, what you profited
Remember the caravan of Badr came back safe and sound so they got their profit.
Hand it back, beacause we now need to go on an offensive against the Muslims


Sahih International
Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of
Allah . So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they
will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.

This is all in the future tense so Allah is predicting whats going to happen. This is Surah Anfal 38.
Surah Anfal was revealed after Badr and yet Allah is predicting whats going to happen in Uhud. This
is the reference to the spending of their money.
The Quraysh then decided that they need help; had plenty of tribes interested in keeping this
economic pipeline (bet. Makkah and Shaam). 2 biggest tribes that helped were Kinaanah and
Tihaama basically saying Help us out with your money, armour, men Entire group came to around
3000. With the bulk of the men being from the Quraysh.
We can see that now, for the first time the conflicts is between Islam and Kufr/paganism. Before it
was just between the Quraysh and the Prophet (local conflict). But with each successive conflict that
circle widens until it becomes and all-out war between Islam and Kufr.
The animosity of Prophet united the Arabs for the first time just like the religion of Islam united the
Arabs for the first time. Up until Islam the Arabs were always disunited, no two tribes would ever
agree. Islam came and made the Arabs into 2 camps; those who accepted/opposed. Eventually
accepted won over and therefore for the 1
st
time in human history the Arabs were united under the
leadership of Prophet.
_________________________________________________________________
Back to Uhud; circle of conflict widened; biggest tribes in the region are participating. 7
th
Shawwal
3AH, the Quraysh set out from Makkah. 1 year after almost to mark the anniversary of Badr.
Eagerness exemplified by the fact that this journey from Makkah to Medinah would take around 2
weeks (casually, leisurely). Speed up a little bit: 10 days. They traversed in 7 days; this is how eager
they were to fight the Muslims.
~3000 men gathered, 200 horses (a lot), 700 armour for men.
Back then the average person did not have weapons for fighting; no army being paid. People living in
Makkah; tradesman, businessmen. Using it once every 10-20 years is not a profitable investment.
The Arabs were not experts in smithing so this would be imported; therefore v.expensive.
Read books on battles, most prized possession for a warrior to obtain in a battle would be
opponents armour due to how expensive it is. So 700 men with armour, chainmail.
Took many of their wives with them. Women, like cheerleaders serve as motivation. Singing poetry,
encouraging men forward. Abu Sufyan took Hind ibn Utbah.
Abu Sufyan was the main leader of the army, put Khalid ibn W in right flank and Ikrimah ibn Abi J in
left flank.
Abbas most likely converted after Badr; plausible theory that he converted after Badr but secretly;
secret Muslim.
As soon as the Quraysh left Makkah, Abbas sent a servant to the Prophet informing in detail of
numbers of men etc.
Servant as fast as humanly possible (3 days), Quraysh did it in 7 days. Gives message to Prophet who
is visiting Quba. Prophet ask Ubayy ibn Kab who is with him to read the letter (he is illiterate).
Ubayy tells him the details and Prophet tells him Dont tell anyone about this news until I tell you.
Immediately rushes back to Medinah. Speaks to the leaders of Ansar, in particular Sad ibn Rabiah
(story of AbdurRahman ibn Awf and .5 wealth and 1 wife) telling him whats going on as this is the 1
st

time Madina is going to be attacked. He then sends out a few spies to check on the Quraysh before
he calls a general meeting.
V.interesting: did he doubt his uncle? Of course not. Trusts his uncle. But still; this is a very big news;
it will affect everything. You cannot operate on presumption that no mistake has been made; what if
the Quraysh have duped Abbas. So Prophet 1
st
sends out a ew spies. See the Quraysh a day or two
away. Meticulous care. Prophet does not act on emotion or in haste rather he thinks things through.
(Haste is from the Shaytaan: ajalat tam mina Shaytaan)
Literally 2 days to do something.
I saw in a dream that I struck with my sword and the sword broke; this was the defeat of Uhud.
Then I struck my sword again and the sword joined/came back like new. Also saw slaughtered cows
Dream: Ibn Ishaaq: told dream before battle, informs them of defeat before the defeat; doesnt
really make sense
Bukhari: Tells sahabah after Uhud, Had the cryptic dream in Makkah, didnt understand it until Uhud
took place then told sahabah of interpretation afterwords.
Interpretation of dream: Defeat of Uhud then
Symbolism of cow is that of the martyrs of Uhud; cow is useful whether dead or alive.
Time is of the essence; Prophet then calls for a general meeting.
Good leader tells the core group around him to get some mashwara; advice on what to do then tells
others.
Friday + janazahn then Prophet tells them everything. Says his own opinion: We are in a protected
fortress (hisnun haseen)
Medinah had natural impediments, protections: two harrras, volcanic plains on both side. NW side:
large mountain of Uhud.
SE side near Quba large pockets of datepalms plantations
Only reason they could dig the trench at Khandaq was because it was a short stretch of land not
around the whole city.
The suggestion was to avail the natural fortifications of the land and so it would be street-to
street fighting. Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Saloon agreed, understood the tactics involved, because he
was a seasoned warrior; said Madinah has never been successfully attacked from within the city
Agreed with Prophet not because he respected the Prophet but because this was the right decision
to take.
However there was a group of younger companions (many who became shaheed). They were eager
for battle; eager to fight. They said Why should we stay in our homes like cowards? Rather we
should go out and fight like brave men and fight them on the battlefield These were people who
had not fought in Badr. Wanted to show their manliness.
Continued pressuring Prophet to go out; senior Sahaabah were silent, said nothing. When the
Prophet felt the majority wanted to go out and fight he went inside to put on his armour. As soon as
he went inside the elders spoke up and told off the youth; they said The Prophet told us his opinion
at the beginning and yet you persisted in suggesting the opposite until he agreed with your opinion;
how could you do this?
The younger sahabah felt embarrassed and so they sent in Hamzah (uncle) into the house of the
Prophet to tell him they changed their mind. Prophet already fastened straps, armour on. Hamza
informs him off this but the Prophet replies
It is not befitting that a Prophet wears his armour and takes it off without engaging in battle
Importance of Shura
Prophet was confident staying in Medinah. But knows like all good leaders, that you need the people
behind you and you cant just impose your will on them. Allah says wa amruhum shura baynahum
Their way of dealing with matters is by shura/consultive voices to reach majority/consensus.
Wisdom of elder companions: they wanted to accept the advice of the Prophet. When youth were
opposing they were silent as they didnt want to argue in the presence of the Prophet out of respect
and adab and etiquette. Wont even rebuke in front of the Prophet even when they knew the youth
were wrong. Unimaginable respect; cant imagine this for anyone but the Prophet. Status of P.
Human nature that young men are more rash and overzealous, quick acting (generally speaking).
Always more overzealous than required. Overzealous in the religion/against the religion or with a
good intention.
Sometimes have good intentions but go in the wrong in the direction eg. extremist militants etc.
those supporting it are mostly the youth.
Sahabah had good intetions but not as much wisdom as the elders did. Always helpful for the youth
to listen to what the elders have to say. Elders have been there done that.
The fact that the Prophet said he cannot take his armour off shows something interesting that we
know from many other ayaat and Ahadith. The Prophets have their own special shariah; they have
certain laws that no-one else has, have a code to operate by that is unique to them.
Eg. Prophet would fast 3 days without breaking it. Sahabah tried and fainted; Sahabah forbidden
from doing so. I am not like one of you; Allah gives me food and drink in a way that he does not give
to you
According to one opinion Waajib to pray Tahajjud every night. This is another code for the Prophets:
once you put on your armour you cant take it off before battle.
Why? Taking it off could be interpreted to mean defeat, cowardice, hesitation.
Not befitting, not allowed to do this.
We all know the advice was not the best advice. The most amazing thing is that once the decision
was made the Sahabah were not criticized after that for the outcome. Nobody came and said I told
you so the attitude we all have. Why?
Fa idha azamta fa tawakkal ilAllah once you do Shura and then make up your mind then khalaas
dont look back.
Hadith; Prophet said None of you should say what if I did this then that would have happened;
rather say Qaddarallah wa ma shaa a faal whatever Allah has willed has occurred.
Why? Because asking what if opens up the doors to Shaytaan. You starting doubting, getting
waswaas and even doubting the Qadar of Allah.
Once you make up your mind properly (youre not hasty); Prophet was not hasty (talked to leaders
Now no-one should be criticized; this was the Qadr of Allah
Big lesson for all of us: Once we make a decision and we do it properly, we should not blame anyone
or anything no see what happened or didnt I tell you.
What do we mean by properly? Istikhaarah and Istishaara.
Istikhaara: prayer to Allah
Istishaarah: asking people for advice from those who are worthy to advise you: family, friends,
experts, whoever
Any time you have a major decision Islam tells us to do these 2 things. Pray Istikhaarah and do istsha.
Now if you do both and suppose it turns out to be a disaster; khalaas: you did what you thought was
best and Allah has something better planned but you just dont see it yet. And this is what happens
with the battle of Uhud.
_______________________
Ibn Ishaaq: Prophet actually wore 2 suits of armour; double armour. Despite the fact that Allah has
promised to protect him; he doesnt need armour at all.
This was to show his followers and the Ummah that if you want to engage in any endeavour you
have to take the means.
You dont just foolishly say: tawakkulAllah; Allah will do everything for me.
Allah even says in the Quran regarding battle khudu hidhrakum take your precautions.
You have to do everything possible then put your tawakkal in Allah. Tie the camel then put your
tawakkul in Allah.
Army divided into 3 groups: Muhaajireen under command of Musab ibn Umair. Aws: Usaid ibn
Hudair. Khazraj: al-Hubaab ibn al-Mundhir.
Situation was so dire; only had a few horses and only 100 suits of armour. Muslims in the late
afternoon of Friday made their way to Uhud, after Jumuah and istishaarah.
Mountain of Uhud; misconception that this is just one mountain; wrong.
Mountain of Uhud is not just one; it is a range of mountains. Number of peaks. Over 1 mile long.
Mountains are NNW of Madinah.
By car it takes less than 10 minutes to get from the Masjid of the Prophet to the mountains of Uhud.
Now because of the number of inhabitants Madinah goes to and includes the mountains of Uhud.
But at that time the city was very small. The entire core of the city would fit into the entire masjid
that is now constructed.
Thats why Baqi was outside the city.
Prophet said: Uhud is a mountain of Jannah different interpretations to this.
The boundary