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up but he was killed by Quzman too. A son of Sharhabeel bin Hashim Al-‘Abdari hoisted it again and
was also killed by Quzman.
So we see that ten fighters o f Bani ‘Abd Ad-Dar — the standard-bearers — were annihilated. Seeing
that none of ‘Abd Ad-Dars survived to carry the standard, a slave of theirs— called Sawab— came
to raise it. The slave showed more admirable sorts of bravery and steadfastness than his former
masters. Sawab, the slave went on fighting till his hand was cut off. So he knelt down and embraced
the banner, leant it against his chest and neck lest it should fall down to the ground. He remained
fighting steadily and steadfastly till he was killed. In the meanwhile he did not stop saying: “O Allâh,
have I been excused?” After the death of the slave Sawab, the standard fell down to the ground,
and remained there as there was no one to carry it.
Whilst the brunt of the battle centred around the s tandard, bitter fighting was going on everywhere
on the battlefield. The spirit of Faith overwhelmed the Muslims’ ranks; so they rushed among the
idolaters as if they had been an outbreak of a destructive flood that overflowed and knocked down
all dams and barriers standing in its way “I seek death, I seek death.” That was their announced
motto on Uhud Day.
Abu Dujana, recognized by the red band worn round his head, came forth, fighting with the sword of
the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him). He was determined to pay its price at all costs. He
killed all the idolaters that stood on his way splitting and dispersing their ranks. Az-Zubair bin Al-
‘Awwam said:
“I felt angry and discouraged when the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) refused to give me
the sword but gave it to Abu Dujana. I said to myself: ‘I am his paternal cousin— the cousin of his
aunt Safiya — a Quraishite, besides, I was the first who demanded it and yet he favoured him to
me. By Allâh, I will watch how he will use it.’ So I followed him, I saw him take out his red band and
wear it round his head. Seeing him like that, the Helpers said, ‘Abu Dujana had worn the band of
death.’ Then he set out saying loudly:
·
‘I am the one whom my intimate friend made covenant with, when we were under the
palm-trees on the mountain side.
The covenant that we made was that I should not fight at the rear.
But fight at the front heroically with the sword of Allâh and His Messenger.’
No one stood the way of Abu Dujana but was killed. There was a man among the idolaters whose
only target was to finish off the wounded Muslims. During the fight Abu Dujana drew near that man;
so I implored Allâh that they might engage in combat. They in fact did and exchanged two sword-
strokes. The idolater struck Abu Dujana, but he escaped it and it pierced into his leather shield. The
idolater’s sword now stuck to it, Abu Dujana struck him with the sword and killed him. Into the thick
of the battle, he rushed to kill a person who was inciting the enemy to fight the Muslims. Upon this
the person shrieked and lo! it was a woman. Abu Dujana spared her saying: ‘I respect the Prophet ’s
sword too much to use it on a woman.’ The woman was Hind bint ‘Utbah.”
Describing the same incident, Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwam said: “I saw Abu Dujana raising a sword
over the parting part of Hind bint ‘Utba’s head then he moved it off. I said to myself: ‘Allâh and His
Messenger know best.’ (i.e. know why he acted like that).”
Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib displayed wonderful feats of gallantry againstthe overwhelming odds
which stood unparalled and created consternation and confusion in the disbelieving hosts. Heroes
dispersed off his way as if they had been tree-leaves blown away by strong wind. In addition to his
effective contribution to the annihilation of the idolaters who stood in defence of the standard, he
was even of much greater effect at fighting against men of bravery and distinguished horsemen. It
was Allâh’s Will that he be murdered when he was at the top. He was not killed in a face-to-face
fight on the battlefield — in the normal way by which heroes die — but rather assassinated in the
dead-dark as was the custom of killing generous and noble men that were impossible to kill in an
honourable fight.
Assassination of Asadullâh (the Lion of Allâh) Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib:
Hamzah’s assassin, Wahshi bin Harb, described how he killed Hamzah. He said:
“I was a slave working to Jubair bin Mut‘im, whose paternal uncle Tu‘aimah bin ‘Adi was injured at
Badr Battle. So when Quraish marched to Uhud, Jubair said to me: ‘If you kill Hamzah, the uncle of
Muhammad, stealthily you shall be manumitted.’ ”
“So I marched with the people to Uhud.” He used to describe himself as, “I am a picaro good at
spearing.” “So when the two parties fought, I set out seeking Hamzah. I saw him amidst people
fighting. He was like a white and black striped camel, striking severely with his sword and no one
could stand on his way. By Allâh! When I was getting ready and trying to seize the fit opportunity to
spear him, hiding sometimes behind a tree or a rock hoping that he might draw nearer and be
within range — at that moment I caught sight of Siba‘ bin ‘Abd Al-‘Uzza going closer towards him.
When Hamzah observed him, he said: ‘Come on! O son of the ‘clitoris-cutter.’ — for his mother used
to be a circumciser. Then he struck one strong stroke that could hardly miss his head.”
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