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“When two parties from among you were about to lose their heart, but Allâh was their
Wali
(Supporter and Protector). And in Allâh should the believers put their trust.” [3:122]
‘Abdullah bin Haram — the father of Jabir bin ‘Abdullah — attempted to stop their withdrawal. He
reminded the hypocrites of their duty at this delicate and awkward condition, but in vain. He
followed them, reproached them and urged them to go back saying: “Come and fight in the way of
Allâh or at least be defenders.” They said: “If we had known that you would really fight we would
have not gone back.” Having despaired of them, he addressed them saying: “May Allâh cast you
away, you enemies of Allâh. Allâh will certainly suffice His Prophet.” Allâh says about those
hypocrites:
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“And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: ‘Come, fight in the way of
Allâh or (at least) defend yourselves.’ They said: ‘Had we known that fighting will take place,
we would certainly have followed you.’ They were that day, nearer todisbelief than to Faith,
saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allâh has full knowledge of what
they conceal.” [3:167]
THE REMINDER OF THE ISLAMIC ARMY ARE ON THE MOVE TO UHUD:
With the remainder of fighters, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) moved towards the
enemy. After the rebellion and withdrawal of the hypocrites, the number of soldiers was reduced to
seven hundred only.
The camp of idolaters was situated in such a place that the many roads leading to Uhud were almost
blocked by them. So the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) said to his men: “Which man of
you can lead us to where the people (i.e. the idolaters) are, along a short track that does not pass
by them?” Abu Khaithama said: “O Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), I am the man you
need.” Then he chose a short track that led to Uhud passing by Harrah Bani Harithah and their
farms, leaving the idolaters’ army westwards.
On their way they passed by
Ha’it
(i.e. the field) of Marba‘ bin Qaizi, who was a blind hypocrite.
When Marba‘ felt and realized that they were the Prophetic army, he started throwing earth at their
faces, so they rushed to kill him, but the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
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“Do not kill him. He is blind in heart and eyes.”
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) went along till climbed down the hillock of Uhud at the
slope of the valley. He camped there with his army facing Madinah while their backs were to the hills
of Uhud mountain. So the army of the enemy stood a barrier between the Muslims and Madinah.
THE DEFENCE PLAN:
TheMessenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) mobilized his army. He arranged them into two rows to
prepare them for fight. He selected fifty skillful archers that formed a squad and made them under
the command of ‘Abdullah bin Jubair bin An-Nu‘man Al-Ansari Al-Awsi Al-Badri. He issued his orders
to them to stay where they were — on a mountain(side) at the south bank of Qanat Al-Wadi (i.e. a
canal of the valley), south east of Muslims camp at about one hundred and fifty metres from the
Islamic army. Later on this mountain was called the Mountain of Archers.
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) clarified the mission of this squad in words he directed
to them. He said to their leader: “Drive off the horses from us by means of arrows, lest they should
attack us from behind (the rear). Whether we win the battle or lose it, stand steadily in your
position and mind that we are not attacked from your side.”
He added:
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“Defend our backs! If you see us slain. Do not come to assist us; and if you see gaining
grounds, do not share us.”
In a version by Al-Bukhâri the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
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“If you see us snatched into pieces by birds, do not leave this position of yours till I send
for you. And if you see that we have defeated the enemy and trodden on them do not desert
your position till I send for you.”
With the assignment of this squad and locating it on the mountainside and the issuance of those
strict military orders, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) blocked the only groove that
might lead the idolaters stealthily to the rear of Muslim ranks and might even enable them to
encircle them in an encompassment procedure.
The assignments of posts and responsibilities for the rest of the army were performed by the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) as follows: On the right wing, he appointed Al-Mundhir bin ‘Amr. On
the left he appointed Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwam, and made Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad his assistant and
supporter. Az-Zubair’s function was to standfast in the face of Khalid bin Al-Waleed’s horsemen. The
Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) selected the top and the most courageous group to be in
the vanguard of the army. They were notable for their readiness, alertness and bravery and
estimated to be equal to thousands of men.
It was a wise and carefully-laid plan which revealed the genius of military leadership that the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) possessed. No other leader could have drawn a more accurate or wise
plan. Although he approached the s ite later than the enemy, he managed to occupy better positions.
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