The Battle of Uhud part 2 Rejecting the Help of the Jews The Islamic army arrived at Thaniyya Hill. At that point, the Prophet looked behind and saw a crowded military unit consisting of archers. He asked, “Who are they?” The mujahids said, “A group of six hundred people from the allies of Abdullah b. Ubay”. The Messenger of God asked, “Have they adopted Islam?” When they said, “No! O Messenger of God!”, he said, “Go and tell them to return. We do not need their help!”[19] The Prophet Inspects the Army When the Islamic army arrived at Shaykhayn Hills, the Messenger of God stopped and inspected his army. Meanwhile, he sent back about fifteen children, who were too young. However, some of them did not want to leave the ranks of mujahids and wanted to fight against polytheists although they were very young. One of them was Rafi’ b. Khadij. He wanted to seem taller by standing on his toes. A Companion said, “O Messenger of God! Rafi is a good archer” and Rafi did not want to leave the army. Thereupon, the Prophet allowed him to stay in the army. When Samura b. Jundub, another young Companion, saw that his friend, Rafi, was accepted to the army, he said to his father, “Dad! The Messenger of God allowed Rafi but refused me. However, I can beat him in wrestling!” His father, Muray b. Sinan, talked to the Messenger of God about it. The Prophet wanted them to wrestle. When he saw that Samura beat Rafi in wrestling, he allowed Samura to join the army, too. Those young Companions, who were only about fifteen years old, wanted to be among the ranks of the mujahids against polytheists enthusiastically.[20] The Night Spent in Shaykhayn When the inspection of the Prophet ended, the sun was about to set. Soon, Bilal al-Habashi called the evening adhan. The Messenger of God led the evening prayer. They performed the night prayer in the same way. The Prophet was going to spend the night there. He appointed a patrol group of fifty people to protect the army and to check around. A Companion Keeps Watch at Night for the Prophet After leading the night prayer, the Messenger of God said, “Who will keep watch tonight for us? A voice was heard among the Mujahids, “I will, O Messenger of God!” The Prophet asked, “Who are you?” The same voice answered, “I am Zakwan b. Abdi Qays.” The Messenger of God ordered, “Sit; do not keep watch!” After a while, the Prophet asked again, “Who will keep watch tonight for us?” A voice was heard among the Mujahids, “I will, O Messenger of God!” The Prophet asked, “Who are you?” The same voice answered, “I am Abu Sab.” The Messenger of God said to him, “Sit; do not keep watch!” After a while, the Prophet asked for the third time, “Who will keep watch tonight for us?” A voice was heard among the Mujahids, “I will, O Messenger of God!” The Prophet asked, “Who are you?” The same voice answered, “I am Ibn Qays.” The Messenger of God ordered, “Sit; do not keep watch!” After a while, the Messenger of God said to them, “Stand up! Three of you!” Only one person stood up. He was Zakwan b. Abdi Qays. The Messenger of God asked him, “Where are your other friends?” He said, “O Messenger of God! It was I who answered your question three times!” Thereupon, the Messenger of God said to him, “Go and keep watch for us. May God protect you!” Zakwan put on his armor, took his shield and kept watch all night near the Prophet.[21] That Companion had introduced himself by using his own name first, his son’s name after that and his father’s name in the end. Islamic Army in Uhud Toward the morning, the Prophet and his army left Shaykhan and headed toward Uhud. At that point, both armies could notice each other. The enemy seemed over there. Among the ranks of the mujahids, the sound of the adhan of the morning prayer went up to the sky in waves. The Muslims prayed behind the Messenger of God in ranks without taking off their arms before the eyes of the enemy. Meanwhile, the Prophet put on armor on his armor and a helmet on his cap as a precaution.[22] Munafiqs Leave the Army In the end, the two armies faced each other. Both armies were busy with the war order. Meanwhile, Abdullah b. Ubay b. Salul, who came up to that place hesitantly and in fear, came forward and said, “Muhammad listened to the young people who had no right to express their views but he did not listen to me. O people! I cannot understand it. Why should we die here?”[23]Then, he returned with about three hundreds soldiers from his own tribes and munafiqs (hypocrites). When munafiqs left, the number of the Islamic army was reduced to seven hundred; which was about one-fourth of the Qurayshi army. Abdullah b. Ubay not only left the Islamic army with a group of munafiqs, he also tried to affect other Muslims. When Sons of Salima of the Khazraj tribe and Sons of Haritha of the Aws tribe saw that Abdullah b. Ubay was returning, they wanted to return, too. However, God’s help arrived and freed them from hesitation. The following is stated in the Quran regarding the issue: “Remember two of your parties meditated cowardice; but God was their Protector, and in God should the Faithful (ever) put their trust.”[24] The Verse Sent down about Munafiqs When the munafiqs left the Islamic army in the battle field and returned to Madinah, the following verses were sent down: “What ye suffered on the day the two armies met, was with the leave of God, in order that He might test the Believers. And the Hypocrites also. They were told: Come, fight in the way of God, or (at least) drive (the foe from your city). They say, Had we known there would be a fight, we should certainly have followed you. They were that day nearer to Unbelief than to Faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts. But God hath full knowledge of all they conceal!”[25] Mukhayriq Joins the Islamic Army Mukhayriq was a great Jewish scholar. He had a great wealth in Madinah. He knew the Messenger of God through his properties in holy books. However, he did not reveal those properties because he was afraid of his nation and because he could not free himself from the effects of his religion. He continued to act like this until the Battle of Uhud.[26] It was when the Messenger of God set out for the Battle of Uhud with the mujahids. Mukhayriq, who did not reveal what he knew up to that time, said, “O People of Jews! I swear by God, you know that it is your duty and right to accept that Muhammad is a prophet and that you have to help him!” The Jews said, “It is Saturday! We will not do anything.” Thereupon, Mukhayriq took his sword and some money with him. He said to one his relatives, “If I am killed today, all of my possessions will belong to Muhammad! He can do whatever he wants with my property.” Then, he joined the Islamic army. He fought against polytheists until he was martyred. Thereupon, the Messenger of God said, “Mukhayriq is a good person of the Jewish nation.”[27] The property of Mukhayriq that was transferred to the Prophet based on the will of Mukhayriq was the seven gardens called Bisab, Safiya, Dalal, Husna, Awaf, Burqa and Mashraba.[28] Having received the property of Mukhayriq, the Prophet endowed all of them. His foundations in Madinah were mostly of the property of Mukhayriq.[29] Headquarters of the Islamic Army It was Saturday. The Prophet dismounted from his horse and arranged the ranks of the army, whose number was few but whose belief and courage were great, himself by walking. He arranged the right and left wing. Mount Uhud was behind the Islamic army. The army faced toward Madinah .[30] The Messenger of God appointed fifty fighters as archers on Aynayn Hill, which was a very important place. He appointed Abdullah b. Jubayr as their leader. Their duty was to watch the strait between Uhud and Aynayn Hill and not to allow the enemy to surround the Islamic army from behind.[31] The Messenger of God gave the archers the following order: : “Even if you see that we have defeated the enemy, do not leave your position unless I inform you or I send you someone. Even if you see that the enemy has defeated us, do not leave your position in order to help us.”[32] After repeating this order and instruction twice, the Prophet said to the archers, “Even if you see that birds pull our bodies to pieces, do not leave your position unless I send you someone.”[33] The order and instruction of the Messenger of God were so clear. Two Armies Confront Both armies had been deployed and were waiting. In the Islamic army, Zubayr b. Awwam was the commander of the armored soldiers and Hazrat Hamza the unarmored soldiers. The right and left wing commander of the polytheist army was Khalid b. Walid and the left branch commander was Ikrima, son of Abu Jahl. Safwan b. Umayya was the commander of the cavalrymen and Abdullah b. Abi Rabia was the commander of the archers.[34] There was a lot of noise and entertainment in the ranks of the polytheist army. Their hearts were full of the feeling of vengeance. The women were trying to encourage the polytheists by singing songs and playing the tambourine. In the ranks of the Islamic army, prayers, supplications, takbirs and amins were heard. People asked help and victory from God. The Messenger of God addressed them and called them to jihad, to fight in the way of God, to show patience and perseverance and hard work despite everything. The mujahids whose hearts were full of belief and whose eyes sparkled with courage were waiting for the order to assault with excitement. They could not stand waiting; they wanted to be martyrs and go to the presence of God or to eliminate the polytheists. One on One Fight Two armies approached each other. Meanwhile, the standard-bearer of the Qurayshi army, Talha b. Abi Talha came forward and called out confidently and arrogantly, “Who will come to fight me?” Hazrat Ali, nicknamed “Asadullah” (Lion of God) came forward and said, “I swear by God, in whose hand is my existence, I will not let you go unless I send you to Hell with my sword or unless I go to Paradise through your sword!” He hit his opponent severely with his sword. He split the head of his enemy into two down to his chin. When Talha fell down, Hazrat Ali returned. The mujahids asked him, “Why did you not cut off his head?” Hazrat Ali said, “When he fell down, his private parts were opened. I turned my face away. I know very well that God will not let him live; God will kill him.” When the standard-bearer of the Quraysh was hit, the Prophet and mujahids became very happy; they showed their happiness by calling out takbirs. Hazrat Hamza Beats the Second Standard-bearer When Talha fell down, Osman b. Abi Talha, his brother, took the standard of the Qurayshi polytheists. Hazrat Hamza was his opponent. Hamza hit his shoulder with his sword and cut off his arm. This time, Abu Sa’d b. Abi Talha from Sons of Abduddar took the standard. The Messenger of God sent Hazrat Ali to fight Abu Sa’d. Hazrat Ali defeated him. Abu Sa’d died as he received the blows of “Asadullah”. When Sa’d was killed, Musafi’ b. Talha b. Abi Talha took the standard of the Qurayshis. Asim b. Thabit killed him with the arrow he shot. Then, Harith b. Abi Talha took the standard of the Qurayshi polytheists. Asim b. Thabit killed him with an arrow, too.[35] After Harith, Kilab b. Talha took the standard. Zubayr b. Awwam killed him with one blow. This time, Julas b. Talha took the standard. Talha b. Ubaydullah killed him. Seven people, including a father, sons, brothers, and an uncle, from Sons of Abduddar were killed by the heroic mujahids while they were under the standard of the Qurayshi polytheists. After that, Artat b. Shurahbil, from Sons of Abduddar, took the standard. He was killed by the harsh blows of Hazrat Ali. Then, Shurayh b. Qariz took the standard. He was killed by one of the Companions. When the Qurayshi polytheists saw that their standard-bearers were killed one by one, they were frightened and terrified. Nobody dared to approach the standard. In the end, Amra, the daughter of Alqama, picked it up and gave it to the Qurayshis.[36]There was nobody left from Sons of Abduddar to carry the standard; so, Suwab, one of their slaves, carried the standard. Quzman cut off his right hand. Then, Suwab held the standard with his left hand. Quzman cut off his left hand, too. Thereupon, Suwab tried to hold it with his arms but he could not bear it anymore and fell down on his back. Both parties could not wait any longer. A clash started suddenly. Clangor of swords, swishing of arrows and bellowing of camels were heard everywhere. The mujahids who looked forward to fighting in the way of God started to fight heroically. Abu Dujana Receives the Sword of the Prophet The Messenger of God had a sword in his hand. A couplet meaning, “There is shame in cowardice and honor in courage. Man cannot get rid of his destiny through cowardice” was inscribed on it. He asked, “Who wants to receive this sword?” Many Companions came forward. They reached out by saying, “I do. O Messenger of God!” Then the Messenger of God said, “Who wants to receive this sword and deserve it?” Many people wanted it enthusiastically. Hazrat Abu Bakr, Umar, Zubayr b. Awwant to give it yet. Meanwhile a very brave person came forward. It was Abu Dujana. He asked, “What should one do to deserve it, o Messenger of God?” The Messenger of God said, “You should swing it against the enemy until you fall down!” Thereupon, Abu Dujana said, “O Messenger of God! I want to receive it and to deserve it!” He took the sword from the Messenger of God. With the sword of the Prophet in his hand and the red turban on his head, Abu Dujana started to walk toward the polytheists proudly. Thereupon, the Messenger of God said to his Companions, “This is such a walk that God never likes except in the battle field!”[37] Abu Dujana rushed into the ranks of the enemy like lightning; he started to swing his sword to deserve it. He knocked many people down with his blows. He did not notice but he approached the place where the women who encouraged the polytheists to fight were standing. One of them was yelling furiously and encouraging the polytheists to fight. He approached that person. Just as he was going to swing his sword, he heard a scream. It was the scream of Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan. Abu Dujana avoided swinging his sword. Hazrat Zubayr, who saw him like that, asked him later why he had not hit her. Abu Dujana said, “I did not want the sword of the Messenger of God to be polluted with her blood!”[38] On the other hand, Hazrat Hamza had two swings, one in his right hand and one in his left hand. He swung them and said, “I am the lion of God”, swinging them and attacking the polytheists bravely. All of the Mujahids fought the enemy bravely and vehemently. The Enemy is Defeated The army of the polytheists could not resist the heroic fight of the mujahids any longer. They were terrified. They started to run away. The polytheist women played the tambourine and sang songs, calling the soldiers who panicked and ran away. However, the tambourines, songs and poems were of no use for the hearts that were deprived of belief, which was the source of bravery; the polytheist soldiers left all of their possessions and ran away in order to save their lives. The first phase of the battle ended in favor of Muslims thanks to the heroic fights of the mujahids and the help of God. First Martyr of Uhud The Islamic Army was still superior. Meanwhile, Abdullah b. Amr b. Haram was martyred by an arrow shot by a polytheist. He became the first martyr of Uhud. His son, Hazrat Jabir narrated: “While my father was getting ready for the expedition of Uhud, he called me at night and said, ‘O my son! God knows; I may be the first martyr in Uhud tomorrow. I advise you to treat your sisters well. I owe some money. Pay my debts!’ It turned out to be as he said. He became the first martyr.”[39] The Event that Changed the Course of the Battle When the enemy was divided into two and started to run away from the battlefield, the mujahids started to collect the booty that was left behind. The archers that were placed on Aynayn Hill were watching what was happening in the battlefield of Uhud. Meanwhile, the archers wanted to leave their place and join the other mujahids. They thought the battle had finished and their duty had ended. Most of the archers wanted to leave but Abdullah b. Jubayr, their commander, reminded them the order they were given: “Did you forget about what the Messenger of God told you and the order he gave you?” However, all of the archers, except a few of them who stayed with their commander, left Aynayn Hill and joined the mujahids in the battlefield. They started to collect the booty. Khalid b. Walid Makes Use of the Opportunity When most of the archers left their place, the back side of the Islamic army remained defenseless. Khalid b. Walid, who was a war genius and the commander of the Qurayshi cavalrymen, was looking for such an opportunity. He had wanted to pass through that pass during the hottest time of the battle but he had been fought off by the archers. After martyring the ten Muslims on the hill with his soldiers, Khalid bin Walid attacked the ranks of Muslims. It was a sudden, unexpected attack. Everything changed suddenly. The mujahids were quite easy because they thought the enemy was defeated and left. Some of the mujahids had even left their arms. When the Qurayshi forces saw the situation, they returned. Thus, the mujahids remained between two fires. They were surprised when they were attacked suddenly. They lost their strength when they were surrounded from two directions. An unexpected attack at an unexpected time brought about an unexpected result. The Islamic Army Disperses! The mujahids who were attacked from the front and the back, and trapped could not pull themselves together and had to disperse. Only 10-15 Companions remained around the Prophet despite everything. That handful of mujahids struggled very hard and resisted the arrows, spears and sword blows of the polytheists; they tried to use their bodies as a shield to protect the Messenger of God. Meanwhile, one of the stones thrown by the army of the polytheists broke one of the teeth in the right lower jaw of the Prophet; another stone injured the Prophet’s forehead and lower lip. The sword stroke of an unbeliever called Abdullah Ibn Kamia injured his cheekbone. Due to the severity of the blow, his helmet was ripped and two links of the helmet pricked his face.[40] When Abu Ubayda b. Jarrah saw that two links of the helmet pricked the Prophet’s face, he jumped in front of him and said to Hazrat Abu Bakr, who never left the Prophet, “O Abu Bakr! For God’s sake, do not stand between the Prophet and me. Let me remove the links from his face!” He removed the links with his teeth. Meanwhile, two of the teeth of Abu Ubayda were broken.[41] On the other hand, Malik b. Sinan cleaned the blood on the face of the Prophet with his tongue. Thereupon, the Prophet said, “Hell torture will not touch a person whose blood is mixed with my blood.”[42] There was a hole dug by a polytheist in order to make Muslims fall into it. When the Islamic army started to disperse, the Messenger of God did not notice it due to the severity of the battle and fell into the hole. The hole was surrounded by the mujahids and the enemy soldiers were not allowed to approach the hole. The Messenger of God managed to get out of the hole but his face was bleeding. He wiped his hand over the blood on his face and said, “While their Prophet calls them to their Lord, how can a nation that wounds the face of their Prophet be saved?” It was a complaint. God Almighty sent down the following verses upon the complaint of His beloved ProphetHis beloved: “Not for thee, (but for God) is the decision: whether He turn in mercy to them or punish them; for they are indeed wrong-doers. To God belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth: but God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”[43] “No Sword Like Dhul-Fiqar; No Hero Like Ali!” It was when very few Muslims could resist the polytheists. The Prophet noticed that a group of polytheists was coming toward him. He ordered Hazrat Ali, who fought heroically without leaving him, “Attack them!” Hazrat Ali, the Lion of God, walked toward the group of polytheists bravely; he fought them off and knocked one of them down. Meanwhile, Jibril said, “O Messenger of God! This is a favor and bravery done for you.” The Prophet said, “He is of me and I am of him.” Meanwhile, they heard a voice: “No sword like Dhul-Fiqar; no hero like Ali!”[44] Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas Hails Arrows on Polytheists When most of the mujahids left the Messenger of God and scattered around, Hazrat Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas was alone sitting hesitantly and thinking. He said to himself, “I could get rid of neither the desire to be a martyr nor the desire to be saved. Meanwhile a mujahid said to him, “O Sa’d! The Messenger of God wants you.” Hazrat Sa’d went to the presence of Messenger of God immediately. Sa’d narrated what happened after that as follows: “The Messenger of God made me sit in front of him. I started to shoot arrows. At each shot, I said, “O God! This is your arrow. Hit your enemy with it!’ Meanwhile, the Messenger of God (pbuh) said, ‘O God! Accept Sa’d’s prayer! O God! Correct the shooting and arrows of Sa’d! Go on, Sa’d! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Every time I shot an arrow, the Messenger of God (pbuh) repeated the same prayer. When my quiver got empty, the Messenger of God (pbuh) gave the arrows in his quiver to me and placed the arrows in my bow one by one. He was more skilled and faster than anybody else in placing the arrows.” Hazrat Ali said, “The Messenger of God (pbuh) never said, ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you’ to anybody except Sa’d. On the day of Uhud, he said to Sa’d, “Shoot, O, Sa’d! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Shoot, O short and strong young boy!’ I have never heard the Prophet (pbuh) say so for anybody else.”[45] The Heroism of Hazrat Talha b. Ubaydullah It was the most critical and terrifying moment of the battle. The Muslims was climbing up the hills in order to save themselves from the polytheists that were attacking them from the front and back. There were only five or ten mujahids left around the Prophet. Those mujahids and the Prophet fought heroically against the polytheists. One of them was Hazrat Talha b. Ubaydullah. When the polytheists surrounded the Messenger of God, he tried to fight them off with his sword by turning to the right and left. Meanwhile, Malik b. Zuhayr, one of the best archers of the polytheists, shot an arrow at the Prophet. When Hazrat Talha noticed that the arrow was going to hit the Messenger of God, he reached his hand out to prevent the arrow. The fast arrow pierced his finger, making him disabled in one hand.[46] The Prophet said, “If you want to see a person of Paradise on earth, look at Talha b. Ubaydullah!”[47] One of the veins in the head and body of Hazrat Talha was cut off while he was trying to protect the Messenger of God from the sword blows and arrows of the polytheists. His body was wounded in several places. He fainted due to blood loss. Meanwhile, Hazrat Abu Bakr went over the Prophet. The Messenger of God said to him, “Take care of your cousin.” When Hazrat Abu Bakr sprinkled some water on his face, Hazrat Talha came round. He did not heed the pain of his wounds. He did not think about himself; he was wondering about the situation of the person for whom he had sacrificed himself. He asked Hazrat Abu Bakr, “What is the Messenger of God doing?” When Hazrat Abu Bakr said, “He is all right. He sent me to you”, that heroic Companion said, “Thank God! If the Messenger of God is alive, no misfortune is important for us!”[48] When Hazrat Talha, who was named as “Talhatu’l-Khayr (Good Talha)” by the Messenger of God due to his heroism and sacrifice in the way of God, he had seventy-five wounds in his body. His head had been ripped in four places; his femoral artery had been cut wholly. His hand had been disabled.[49] Hazrat Hamza Becomes a Martyr When Muslims started to disperse toward the hills, when there was a mess. Hazrat Hamza was resisting against the polytheists and praying by saying, “O God! I take refuge in you from those states of Muslims and ask forgiveness from you.” The polytheists could not approach him. They were trying to shoot him from a distance. There was a slave called “Wahshi” in Makkah. He was very good at throwing spears in the Ethiopian style. He rarely missed the target. It was just before the Qurayshi army left Makkah. His master, Jubayr b. Mut’im, called his slave, Wahshi, and said to him, “Join the army. If you kill Hamza, Muhammad’s uncle, in return for my uncle, Tuayma b. Adiyy, you will be a free man.”[50] Abu Sufyan’s wife, Hind, whose father was killed in Badr, promised many rewards to Wahshi for it, too. Therefore, Wahshi was watching Hazrat Hamza during the battle. Hazrat Hamza was attacking the polytheists swinging his sword and striking them. Meanwhile, Wahshi was hiding behind a rock, looking for an opportunity. Hazrat Hamza was attacking the enemy very fast when he slipped and fell down on his back. Wahshi, who was a very good shooter, threw his spear and hit Hamza on his side. Hamza was martyred. Wahshi did not regard it sufficient; In order to please Hind, Abu Sufyan’s wife, Wahshi cut Hamza’s body open and took out his liver; he gave the liver to Hind. Hind gave her valuable things she was wearing to Wahshi due to his achievement and chewed the liver of Hamza to take revenge.[51]However, it was not enough to soothe her feeling of vengeance; she cut his nose, and ears to use them as bracelets and anklets.[52] Mus’ab b. Umayr is Martyred Most of the mujahids had dispersed around. Nevertheless, there were some mujahids who never left the Messenger of God. One of those mujahids was Hazrat Mus’ab b. Umayr, the standard-bearer of the Islamic army. An unbeliever called Ibn Kamia approached the Messenger of God on horseback. He shouted, “Show me Muhammad! If he remains alive, I won’t.” Hazrat Mus’ab, some mujahids and Nasiba (a woman) resisted Ibn Kamia. He hit Nasiba, who was trying to protect the Messenger of God, on her shoulder with his sword. Nasiba hit him bravely several times in return. However, her blows did not affect him because he had two armors on. Ibn Kamia cut off the right hand of Hazrat Mus’ab with his sword. Hazrat Mus’ab held the standard, which symbolized the honor of Islam, with his left hand. Ibn Kamia cut off Mus’ab’s left hand, too. This time, Hazrat Mus’ab held the standard with his arms and pressed it on his chest. At that moment, his only aim was to prevent Ibn Kamia from reaching the Prophet and to prevent the standard of Islam from falling down. Ibn Kamia pierced Mus’ab’s body with his spear. Hazrat Mus’ab could no longer resist; he fell down and became a martyr. The standard fell down, too.[53] When Hazrat Mus’ab was martyred, the Prophet gave the standard to Hazrat Ali. When Hazrat Ali went to fight, Abur-Rum carried the standard until the battle ended. The Rumor “Muhammad was Killed” When Mus’ab b. Umayr put on his armor, he resembled the Messenger of God a lot. When Ibn Kamia killed Hazrat Mus’ab, he thought he killed the Prophet. He immediately went to the polytheists and said, “I killed Muhammad!”[54] When the polytheists heard it, they began to scream joyfully. One of them went up to the mountain and yelled, “Muhammad was killed!” When the mujahids heard that terrifying yelling, they felt upset. A withdrawal and panic started in the Islamic army. Everybody started to leave the battlefield in different directions. During this tumult, some of them even swung their swords against their Muslim brothers without knowing what they were doing. During this tumult, Husayl b. Jabir was martyred by another Companion by mistake. Mujahids Look for the Messenger of God The mujahids who did not want to believe what the polytheists yelled started to look for the Messenger of God. One of them, Hazrat Ali, was swinging his sword against enemy soldiers that he met and was looking for the Prophet. The greatest and unique wish of the mujahids in the battlefield was to find the Messenger of God. Meanwhile, a voice that soothed the hearts was heard: “O Muslims! Glad tidings! Here is the Messenger of God! It was the voice of Ka’b b. Malik. He recognized the Messenger of God from his blessed shining eyes under his helmet in the place called Shi’b. While he was shouting to Muslims, he was pointing to the place where the Messenger of God was.[55] The Prophet did not want the enemy to know where he was. He hushed Ka’b, who was giving glad tidings to Muslims, with his hand.[56] Now, the place of the Messenger of God was known and it was understood that the news that spread was a rumor. The mujahids ran toward the place where the Messenger of God was and surrounded him. The only aim of the mujahids was to protect the body of the Messenger of God. They managed it. The Heroism of Nasiba Umm Umara Nasiba bint Ka’b... She joined the Islamic army and came to Uhud with her husband and two sons; her husband and sons were going to fight the polytheists and she was going to help the wounded Muslims and bring them water. However, when the Muslims started to disperse in the second phase of the battle, Nasiba saw that very few mujahids remained around the Messenger of God. Therefore, she immediately went to the Prophet and started to fight. She tried to protect the Messenger of God from the polytheists by using a sword and arrows. Meanwhile, she was wounded. When the Prophet looked around, she always saw Nasiba resisting the polytheists. He said, “O Umm Umara! Not everybody can bear and resist what you bore and resisted!” When the Prophet saw the wound in her shoulder, he said to her son, Abdullah, “Dress your mother’s wound!” Then, she said, “May it be blessed for your family: The rank of your mother is better than the ranks of such and such people! The rank of your father is better than the ranks of such and such people! Your rank is better than the ranks of such and such people! My God have mercy on your family!” Meanwhile, Nasiba, who was swinging her sword bravely against the polytheists thanks to her belief, said, “O Messenger of God! Pray God so that we will be your neighbor in Paradise.” The Messenger of God prayed: “O God! Make them my neighbors and friends in Paradise.” Thereupon, Nasiba joyfully said, “I will not care no matter what kind of misfortunes hit me in the world; that prayer is enough for me!”[57]Thus, she showed her love and loyalty toward the Messenger of God. “He is a person of Hell!” There was someone who fought bravely and attacked the enemy recklessly in the ranks of Muslims. He was also the first one who shot arrows at the enemy. Strange enough, whenever Quzman’s name was mentioned, the Prophet said, “He is a person of Hell”. The Companions could not understand why the Prophet said so. Quzman showed great heroism during the most severe moments of the battle. When the Islamic army started to disperse, he broke the sheath of his sword; he attacked the polytheists saying, “To die is better than to run away. O People of Aws! Fight for honor and fame like me.” After killing seven or eight polytheists, he got wounded and there was blood on his body and clothes. The Companions had not understood the meaning of the word of the Prophet: “He is a person of Hell.” How could Quzman, who showed so much heroism and bravery in the rank of Muslims be a person of hell? However, the Messenger of God knew about the real nature of Quzman because God had informed the Prophet about him. The Companions congratulated Quzman, who was having great pains due to his wounds, and said, “Congratulations O Quzman! You will go to Paradise!” In his answer, Quzman revealed the real nature of the issue: “Why do you congratulate me? My aim is not to be a martyr. I did not even think about maintaining the religion. I fought for my tribe; I fought so that the Qurayshis would not damage the date gardens of Madinah.”[58]When his pains got worse, he did not have any hope that he would survive; so, he cut the vein in his arm with an arrow and committed suicide.[59] Thus, the Companions realized the truth in the words of the Messenger of God. They found out that the heroism of Quzman was not for the sake of God but for the sake of his tribe’s honor and fame, and protecting the date gardens in Madinah. When the Messenger of God heard that Quzman committed suicide, he said, “Godu Akbar! Godu Akbar! I witness that I am the Messenger of God!” Then, he added, “Doubtlessly, God strengthens his religion through a sinner if He wishes.”[60] The criterion for the acceptance of deeds is sincerity; that is, the deed needs to be done for the sake and consent of God. A word, a deed or an act of heroism that is not said or done sincerely has no value in the eye of God. The incident of Quzman is a clear example of it. The Prayer of the Messenger of God for his Tribe While trying to protect himself from the showers of arrows of the polytheists, the Messenger of God said the following prayer: “O God! Forgive my tribe and show them the right path because they do not know what they are doing.”[61] Sorrowful Result When the polytheists understood that they would not be able to do anything else, they decided that it would be better to withdraw lest they should be defeated by the mujahids who started to gather strength; and they withdrew conceitedly. The result was really sorrowful, exemplary and thought provoking. Seventy mujahids had been martyred during the battle. Among them were distinguished Companions like Hazrat Hamza, and Mus’ab b. Umayr. People like Abu Dujana and Nasiba received numerous blows while trying to protect the Messenger of God and their bodies were covered with blood. During the first phase of the battle, the mujahids were winning the battle but when most of the archers left their positions despite the command and instruction of the Messenger of God, the victory was replaced by a defeat. Uhud became red with the blood of the Muslims. Mount Uhud, about which the Prophet said, “It likes us and we like it”, was covered by a cloud of sorrow. The Prophet Walks up to the Rocks The Prophet was wounded and tired. He did not have the strength to walk on his own. He walked up to the rocks in Shi’b, where the Muslims had taken refuge, by leaning against Sa’d b. Muadh and Sa’d b. Ubada. He wanted to have a rest and gather strength again there. After walking for a while, he could not proceed any longer. The armor he was wearing was very heavy. Meanwhile, Talha b. Ubaydullah crouched and said, “Sit on my back, O Messenger of God! I am strong; I can carry you.” He carried the Prophet to the rocks. The Messenger of God washed his face that was covered with blood there and had some water poured on his head. The Prophet Kills Ubayy b. Khalaf It was before the Battle of Badr. While the Messenger of God was walking around the battlefield, he said, “This is where Abu Jahl is going to be killed; this is where Utba and this is where Umayya, this is where such and such person is going to be killed. I am going to kill Ubayy b. Khalaf with my own hands.” The cave on Uhud in which the Prophet took shelter As the Prophet informed people in Badr, Abu Jahl, Utba and Umayya b. Khalaf were killed by mujahids in the places that had been shown by the Prophet. Only Ubayy b. Khalaf remained. He was one of the notables of the Quraysh. Whenever he met the Prophet, he said, “O Muhammad! I have a horse. I feed him with sixteen kilos of corn every day. One day I will kill you riding it.” The Prophet answered this unruly and stupid man as follows: “I will kill you inshaGod.”[62] Ubayy b. Khalaf went to Uhud in order to take the revenge of Umayya, his brother, who had been killed by the mujahids in Badr, and in order to kill the Prophet, by swearing that he would do it. It was when the Messenger of God was walking up to Shi’b. Ubayy was seen going toward Shi’b. He was on the horse that he fed sixteen kilos of corn every day. He was approaching the Prophet with looks of revenge in his eyes. When the Companions noticed him, they wanted to confront and kill him. However, the Messenger of God said, “Let him come.” While approaching the prophet, this unruly polytheist said, “O Muhammad! If you survive, I will not survive!” When the Messenger of God heard what he said, he got very furious. He walked against his opponent with his spear, and with solemn and terrifying steps. Ubayy was astonished. He started to run away when he saw the terrifying walking of the Prophet. The prophet followed him and shouted, “Where are you going? You liar!” Ubayy could not save himself by running away. The Prophet threw his spear at him. It hit the part of his body between his helmet and armor. Ubay fell off his horse mooing like a cow. The polytheists took him away; he was wounded. No blood was coming out of his wound. He could not bear the pain. From time to time, he said to his friends, “By God! Muhammad killed me!” His friends did not take what he said seriously; they tried to console him by saying his wound was not very important. However, Ubayy realized that he was not going to survive. He said to his friends, “In Makkah, he said to me, ‘I will kill you.’ I swear by God he will kill me only by spitting on my face.”[63] Ubayy b. Khalaf died by saying, “I am thirsty; I am thirsty!” Thus, another miracle of the Prophet about the future came true by the permission of God.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 08:30:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015