The Battle of Uhud

Quraish march on Madinah with 3,000 men to avenge Badr. The Prophet ﷺ goes out with 1,000, but ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy turns back with a third of them, leaving 700. Fifty archers under ‘Abdullah bin Jubair are ordered not to leave their hill until he sends for them. Hamzah is killed by Wahshi’s spear while the Muslims are still winning; then most of the archers leave their posts for the spoils, and Khalid bin al-Walid’s cavalry sweeps round behind them. A false cry that Muhammad has been killed spreads; the Prophet is wounded, a few companions shielding him with their own bodies. About seventy Muslims are martyred.

As the book dates it: Saturday 7 Shawwal, 3 A.H.

Who was there

• AU‘Abdullah bin UbayyA Madinan leader who outwardly accepted Islam but worked against the Muslims; he withdrew a third of the army before Uhud.
• AJ‘Abdullah bin JubairCommander of the archers at Uhud, who held his post when most of his men left it.
• KKhalid bin al-WalidThe Quraish cavalry leader whose charge turned Uhud; after accepting Islam he saved the army at Mu’tah.
• ASAbu Sufyan bin HarbLeader of Quraish in the wars against the Muslims, who accepted Islam just before the Conquest of Makkah.
• HAHamzah bin ‘Abdul-MuttalibThe Prophet’s uncle, a strong warrior whose Islam gave the Muslims new confidence; killed at Uhud.
• WWahshiA slave of Jubair bin Mut’im who killed Hamzah at Uhud to win his freedom; pardoned at the Conquest of Makkah.
• MUMus’ab bin ‘UmairThe first envoy sent to teach Islam in Madinah; he carried the standard at Uhud and fell there.
• TUTalhah bin ‘UbaidullahAn early believer who shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his own body at Uhud.
• SWSa’d bin Abi WaqqasAn early believer and skilled archer.
• ADAbu DujanahTook the Prophet’s sword at Uhud on the promise to give it its due.
• NKNusaibah bint Ka’b (Umm ‘Umarah)One of the two women at the Second Pledge; she fought to defend the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud.
• AUAbu ‘Ubaidah bin al-JarrahAn early believer who stood by the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud.
• AT‘Ali bin Abi TalibThe Prophet’s young cousin, among the very first believers, who slept in his bed on the night of the Hijrah and later married Fatimah.
• AAnas bin an-NadrFought on at Uhud when others thought the Prophet ﷺ had been killed, and died with over eighty wounds.
• HUHind bint ‘UtbahAbu Sufyan’s wife, who urged Quraish on at Uhud; she was pardoned at the Conquest of Makkah.