In this article, we will discuss the battle of Uhud briefly in a simple way. We will highlight its most important events, its causes, and the lessons behind the battle. We will also answer the frequently asked questions about the battle.
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Here we will learn the following:
Introduction | The Battle of Uhud Facts
The battle of Uhud was the second greatest battle in Islam after the battle of Badr. It occurred the next year after the battle of Badr in the third year after Hijra.
The battle took place near mount Uhud in Madinah which was a strategic barrier for Muslim defense.
Although the battle of Uhud was a great victory for Muslims in the beginning, it ended up with their defeat due to disobeying the prophet’s commands.
What Was The Main Cause of The Battle of Uhud?
The main cause of the battle of Uhud is Quraysh’s aim to take revenge for their devastating defeat at the battle of Badr. They prepared a great well-equipped army and headed for Madinah to destroy the Muslim state and take revenge.
When Muslims knew of Quraysh’s intention of attacking them, they had two different opinions. Either to stay in Madinah and defend themselves, or go and meet them outside Madinah. The prophet (PBUH) agreed with the second opinion and commanded them to get ready to go outside.
What Is The Battle of Uhud Story?
When Muslims headed for the battle’s field, a third of the Muslim army returned under the leadership of Abdullah Ibn-Salool one of the hypocrites.
After Muslims reached mount Uhud, Prophet Muhammad had a strategic plan to defend the Muslim army. He used mount Uhud as a natural barrier to defend Muslims from behind. At the same time, he assigned a group of archers on a small mount beside Uhud to protect Muslims’ backs and prevent Quraysh’s possible attacks from the gap behind.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the importance of the archers keeping at their places no matter what happens. He said: “If you see that the birds are snatching at us, do not move from this place of yours and if you see that we defeated the people (the enemy) and trod them down, do not move until I send for you.” (Sunan Abi-Dawood 2662)
The battle started with the Muslims’ victory despite their small number compared to Quraysh’s army. However, when the archers saw polytheists run away leaving spoils behind, they hurried to collect them thinking they achieved a complete victory, and disobeyed The Prophet’s commands.
Soon, the victory turned into a catastrophic defeat where Khalid Ibn Al-Walid -who was not a Muslim yet- revolved around the mount of the archers and attacked Muslims from behind making them surrounded by Quraysh from all sides!
The Battle of Uhud in The Quran and Hadith
The battle of Uhud was narrated in the Quran in Surah Al-Imran, verses (121-180). It was also narrated in several hadiths such as:
- “A man said to The Prophet on the day of Uhud: If I am killed in the cause of Allah, where do you think I will be? He said: In Paradise. He threw down some dates that were in his hand and fought until he was killed.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 3154)
- Khabbab narrated “Some of us passed away (i.e. died) without enjoying anything from their reward, and one of them was Mus`ab bin `Umar who was killed (i.e. martyred) on the day of Uhud.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 4082)
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The Battle of Uhud’s Results – Who Won at The Battle of Uhud?
Although Muslims had victory over Quraysh at the beginning of the battle of Uhud, they were defeated due to the archers’ disobedience to Prophet Muhammad’s commands.
How many sahaba were martyred in the battle of Uhud?
There were more than 70 Muslims martyred in the battle of Uhud. Among them were Hamza Ibn Adilllah (The Prophet’s uncle), Mus’ab Ibn Umair, Anas Ibn Al-Nadr, Abdullah Ibn-Haram, Amr Ibn-Al Gamooh, Abdullah Ibn Gahsh… etc.
These hadiths narrate their great reward for being killed for the sake of Allah at Uhud:
How many kuffar died in the battle of Uhud?
It was estimated to be 23 Kuffar died at the battle of Uhud.
The Battle of Uhud Map – When and Where Did The Battle of Uhud Take Place?
The Battle of Uhud took place in the 3rd year after Hijra, near mount Uhud near Madinah where Uhud was a defense for Muslims from behind. Besides, Muslim archers were supposed to defend the gap.
What Are The Lessons From The Battle of Uhud?
There are plenty of lessons to learn from the battle of Uhud. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss some in brief.
1. The Hypocrites Are The Worst of People
Abdullah Ibn-Salool, the most popular hypocrite in Madinah, returned with the third of the Muslim army. This should let us know we shouldn’t depend on hypocrites and always pay attention to their plans.
2. Disobedience to Allah and His Messenger Is The Cause of Defeat
Muslims achieved victory despite their small number compared to Quraysh. However, when they preferred the spoils to the Prophet’s commands, they were defeated. This teaches us that Allah is The One who grants victory. Moreover, we should learn that disobeying Allah and His messenger in any of the fields of life is the cause of our defeat nowadays.
3. The Sacrifice of Prophet Muhammad; The Leader
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had been greatly injured at the battle of Uhud after a large group of Muslims had escaped. His helmet was damaged, his lower lip was bruised, and his teeth were chipped. This shows that the leader should be firm, steady, and stable in front of the enemy even if all people ran away. It also shows Prophet Muhammad’s sacrifice for Islam and his great courage (PBUH).
4. The Sacrifice of Muslims
A group of Muslims has shown great bravery in defending Prophet Muhammad after their defeat. Some of them are Abu-Dujanah, Malik Ibn-Sinan, Omm Imarah (a Muslim female), Saad Ibn Abi-Waqqas, Talha Ibn-Obaid Allah…etc.
The battle of Uhud has many lessons to teach adults and kids as well. Enroll in Quran House Academy to learn online Islam for kids.
Conclusion | The Battle of Uhud Summary
The battle of Uhud is one of the greatest battles in Islamic history. It began with the Muslims’ victory and ended up with their catastrophic defeat.
It was a great lesson for Muslims to never disobey the Prophet’s commands no matter what happens. Allah (SWT) has granted Muslims his forgiveness as stated in Surah Al-Imran.
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