The Battle of Uhud

The battle of Uhud took place in the month of Shawwal and `Ali was hardly nineteen years old then.[169]

The battle of Uhud was waged to make up for the defeat of leaders of Quraysh in the battle of Badr. Therefore, they plotted to annihilate Muslims by spending much money and informed Abu-Sufyan of the plot. Abu-Sufyan, after counseling with his aides, decided to besiege Medina in order to kill the Messenger of Allah and his aides.[170] The Holy Prophet (s.a) was informed of Quraysh’s move, so he exchanged views with his companions and decided that the fighting to take place outside Medina and moved towards Uhud with the Muslims. One third of crowd who were hypocrites returned to Medina, half way. So the Holy Prophet (s.a) headed for the place of martyrdom along with seven hundred people. In this relation, God Almighty states: “And when you did go forth early in the morning from your family to lodge the believers in encampments for war…” (3:121). [171]

وَبَرَزَ إلَيْهِ حَنْظَلَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيانَ فَقَتَلَهُ.

وَطَعَنَ ابْنَ عَدِيٍّ ثُمَّ نَوْفَلَ بْنَ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَكَانَ مِنْ شَياطِينِ قُرَيْشٍ وَكانَتْ تُقَدِّمُهُ وَتُعَظِّمُهُ وَتُطيعُهُ وَكَانَ قَدْ قَرَنَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَطَلْحَةَ قَبْلَ الْهِجْرَةِ بِمَكَّةَ وَأَوْثَقَهُما بِحَبْلٍ وَعَذَّبَهُما يَوْماً حَتَّى سُئِلَ فِي أَمْرِهِما.

وقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لَمَّا عَلِمَ بِحُضورِ نَوْفَلٍ بَدْراً قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إكْفِنِي نَوْفلاً. فَلَمَّا قَتَلَهُ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ لَهُ عِلْمٌ بِنَوْفَلٍ؟ قَالَ: أنَا قَتَلْتُهُ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. فَكَبَّرَ وَقالَ: الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَجابَ دَعْوَتِي فِيهِ.

وَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقْتُلُ واحِداً بَعْدَ واحِدٍ حَتَّى قَتَلَ نِصْفَ الْمَقْتولينَ وَكانوا سَبْعينَ، وَقَتَلَ الْمُسْلِمونَ كافَّةً وَثَلاثَةُ آلافٍ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ الْمُسَوِّمينَ النِّصْفَ الآخَرَ.

ثُمَّ رَمَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِكَفٍّ مِنَ الْحَصا وَقالَ: شَاهَتِ الوُجُوهُ. فَانْهَزَموا جَمِيعاً.

وَفي غَزاةِ أُحُدٍ:

وَكانَتْ فِي شَوَّالٍ وَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ عُمْرُ أَمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ تِسْعَ عَشرَةَ سَنَةً.

وَسَبَبُها أنَّ قُرَيْشاً لَمَّا كُسِروا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ وَقُتِلَ رُؤَساؤُهُمْ بَذَلوا الأَمْوالَ لإسْتِئْصالِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ. وَتَوَلَّى ذَلِكَ أَبُو سُفْيانَ لِيَقْصُدوا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنينَ بِالْمَدينَةِ. وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي جَماعَةٍ مِنَ المُسْلِمينَ فَرَجَعَ قَريبٌ مِنْ ثُلُثِهِمْ إلَى الْمَدينَةِ وَبَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي سَبْعِمِائَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمينَ. وَقَدْ قَالَ اللهُ تَعالَى: ﴿وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَاعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ…﴾

The Holy Prophet (s.a) on that day lodged the encampments, organized then in a long line, appointed fifty men of Ansar under the command of a man by the name of `Abdullah ibn `Umar ibn Khiram to be stationed at the top of the mountain, dangerous for the enemy’s hidden attack, ordering them not to move from their places and to closely watch the enemy’s moves even if all Muslims were killed, for it was a strategic place. If there was any possible attack, it would start from the same place. Therefore, it had to be safeguarded, for the enemy might besiege Muslims from the same position.[172]

The Holy Prophet (s.a) entrusted the standard of Muslims to `Ali. The enemy’s standard bearer was Talhah ibn Abi-Talhah whom they called Kabsh al-Katibah. `Ali plucked out his eyes from its sockets with one blow. He made a loud cry and the standard of atheism fell down from his hand. He was then killed and his brother, Mus`ab, carrying the standard on his shoulder prepared himself for fighting but `Asim ibn Thabit killed him by throwing an arrow. Then their male servant whose name was Sawwab and was the most agile and strong picked up the standard and prepared himself for fighting but `Ali cut off his right arm with a single blow. Sawwab wielded the standard in his left hand but `Ali cut off his left arm too with another blow. When his two arms were cut off, Sawwab stuck the standard on his chest with the help of his remaining arms but `Ali struck a blow on his head with his sword, making him fall down on the ground and die. Having lost their standard bearers, the enemy was frightened, Muslims who were rejoicing for the enemy’s escape and their victory, were engaged in gathering war booties.[173]

Those Muslims stationed on the order of the Holy Prophet at the top of the mountain overlooking the battle front, seeing the enemy’s defeat and gathering of the was booties, asked their commanders to give them permission to come to the scene of fighting so that they will not be deprived of war booties! `Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah has ordered me not to move from this place even one step. Therefore, we should not leave our position. They said: You are right. The Holy Prophet’s order was right but he did not know that we could achieve victory so quickly. Hence, they collectively entered the scene to gather war booties, leaving `Abdullah by himself! Khalid ibn Walid attacked him from behind and martyred

وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ صَفَّ الْمُسْلِمينَ صَفّاً طَويلاً وَجَعَلَ عَلَى الشِّعْبِ خَمْسينَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصارِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلاً مِنْهُمْ يُقالُ لَهُ: عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ خِرَمٍ. وَقالَ: لاَ تَبْرَحوا مِنْ مَكانِكُمْ وَإنْ قُتِلْنا عَنْ آخِرِنا فَإنَّما نُؤْتَى مِنْ مَوْضِعِكُمْ هَذَا.

وَجَعَلَ لِواءَ الْمُسْلِمينَ بِيَدِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلَوْاءُ الكُفَّارِ بِيَدِ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، وَكَانَ يُسَمَّى كَبْشَ الكَتيبَةِ. ضَرَبَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَنَدَرَتْ عَيْنُهُ وَصاحَ صَيحَةً عَظيمَةً وَسَقَطَ اللِّواءُ مِنْ يَدِهِ. فَأَخَذَهُ أخوهُ مُصْعَبٌ فَرَماهُ عاصِمُ بْنُ ثابِتٍ فَقَتَلَهُ. فَأَخَذَهُ عَبْدٌ لَهُمْ اسمُهُ صَوَّابٌ وَكَانَ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ فَقَطَعَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَدَهُ اليُمْنَى، فَأَخَذَ اللِّواءَ بِاليُسْرى فَقَطَعَها أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَأَخَذَ اللِّواءَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ وَجَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ يَدَيْهِ وَهُما مَقْطوعَتانِ، فَضَرَبَهُ أمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى أُمِّ رَأْسِهِ فَسَقَطَ صَريعاً فَانْهَزَمَ القَوْمُ. وَأَكَبَّ الْمُسْلِمونَ عَلَى الْغَنائِمِ.

وَرَأى أَصْحَابُ الشِّعْبِ النَّاسَ يَغْتَنِمونَ فَخَافُوا فَوْتَ الْغَنيمَةِ فَاسْتَأْذَنوا رَئيسَهُمْ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ بْنِ خِرَمٍ فِي أَخْذِ الغَنَائِمِ. فَقالَ: إنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَمَرَنِي إلاَّ أبْرَحَ مِنْ مَوْضِعي. فَقَالُوا: إنَّهُ قَالَ ذَلِكَ وَهُوَ لاَ يَدْري أنَّ الأَمْرَ يَبْلُغُ مَا تَرَى. وَمَالوا إلَى الغَنائِمِ وَتَرَكُوهُ. فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ خالِدُ بْنُ الوَليدِ فَقَتَلَهُ. وَجَـاءَ مِنْ ظَـهْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ

him, attacking the Holy Prophet and his aides from behind. Addressing those who had left their positions, the Holy Prophet said with a sad tone: Here is what you were after! So the enemy in a solid column attacked on Muslims with swords, spears, arrows and stones, launching a hard fighting. Seeing this, the companions of the Holy Prophet gathered around him, trying to protect him from the enemy but seventy Muslims were martyred.[174]

In this battle, `Ali remained steadfast, defended the Holy Prophet and his divine mission, and was prepared to sacrifice himself for the Holy Prophet from every side the enemies attacked him. When the Holy Prophet opened his eyes after fainting as a result of the enemy’s brutal attack, he saw no one but `Ali, saying: O `Ali! What did these people do and where have they gone to? `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah! They have broken their promises and by escaping from the battle scene, have taken shelter on the mountain! The Holy Prophet (s.a) said: O `Ali, repel this fierce group which attacked me. `Ali launched a hard attack, dispersed all of them, and returned to the Holy Prophet. The enemy invaded from another direction but `Ali defeated them again with his matchless resistance.[175]

Those how escaped from the scene, though seeing the Holy Prophet was being attacked, remained on the mountain except fourteen of them who returned.[176]

At that time, sad news which was heart-rending spread in Medina and that was the news on the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet (s.a).[177]

Hind, the daughter of `Utbah, who had lost her relatives in the battle of Badr promised Wahshi (a slave) that she would provide him with a great sum of money if he could kill the Holy Prophet, `Ali, or Hamzah (the Holy Prophet’s uncle). Accepting the act, Wahshi said: Forget about killing the Prophet, for I can in no way kill him, for he is being circled by his companions. As for `Ali, I cannot play any trick to kill him either, for when fighting, he is careful about himself from every side, repelling the enemy’s attack. So I am only hopeful of killing Hamzah, for when he is fighting and angry, he does not see even before himself. Wahshi martyred Hamzah Hind came and ordered to tear Hamzah’s belly and give her his liver. She then lynched his body. His nose and ears were two broken. [178]

عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَقالَ لأَصْحابِهِ: دُونَكُمْ هَذَا الَّذِي تَطْلُبونَ. فَحَمَلوا عَلَيْهِ حَمْلَةَ رَجُلٍ واحِدٍ ضَرْباً بِالسُّيُوفِ وَطَعْناً بِالرِّمَاحِ وَرَمْياً بِالنِّبَالِ وَرَضْخاً بِالْحِجَارَةِ. وَجَعَلَ أصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يُقَاتِلونَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى قُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ سَبْعونَ رَجُلاً.

وَثَبَتَ أمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ يَدْفَعُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَفَتَحَ عَيْنَهُ وَكَانَ قَدْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَظَرَ إلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، مَا فَعَلَ النَّاسُ؟ فَقالَ: نَقَضُوا العَهْدَ وَوَلَّوُا الدُّبُرَ. فَقالَ: فَاكْفِنِي هَؤلاءِ الَّذينَ قَصَدوا نَحْوي.

فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَكَشَفَهُمْ. ثُمَّ عَادَ إلَيْهِ وَقَدْ قَصَدُوهُ مِنْ جِهَةٍ أُخْرَى فَكَشَفَهُمْ.

وَرَجَعَ مِنَ الْمُنْهَزِمينَ أرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً وَصَعَدَ البَاقونَ الْجَبَلَ.

وَصاحَ صائِحٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ: قُتِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَانْخَلَعَتِ القُلُوبُ.

وَجَعَلَتْ هِنْدُ بِنْتُ عُتْبَةَ لِوَحْشِيٍّ جَعْلاً عَلَى أنْ يَقْتُلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أوْ عَلِيَّاً أوْ حَمْزَةَ. فَقالَ: أمَّا مُحَمَّدُ فَلا حِيلَةَ فِيهِ لأَنَّ أصْحابَهُ يَطُوفونَ بِهِ. وَأمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَإنَّهُ إذَا قَاتَلَ أَحْذَرُ مِنَ الذِّئْبِ. وَأمَّا حَمْزَةُ فَأَطْمَعُ فِيهِ لأَنَّهُ إذَا غَضِبَ لاَ يُبْصِرُ مَـا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ.

فَقَتَلَهُ وَحْشِيٌّ. وَجاءَتْ هِنْدُ فَأَمَرَتْ بِشَقِّ بَطْنِهِ وَقَطْعِ كَبِدِهِ وَالتَّمْثيلِ بِهِ، فَجَدَعوا أَنْفَهُ وَأُذُنَيْهِ.

In this battle, Gabriel brought the deed of honor of “There is no man more valorous than `Ali and there is no sword sharper than Dhu’l-Fiqar” for the great man, `Ali and read it with a loud voice to people so that they heard it all.[179]

At this time, Gabriel said: O Messenger of Allah, the angels are surprised at `Ali’s self-sacrifice for you and hailed his great help. The Messenger of Allah said: Why they should not be when `Ali is from me and I am from him. Gabriel took pride in this and said: I am from you too.[180]

The atheists of Quraysh who were killed in the battle of Uhud by `Ali’s sword were a great number. Muslims’ final victory and their returning to the Messenger of Allah was due to `Ali’s steadfastness and courage in the battlefield.[181]

وَقالَ جِبْريلُ: لاَ سَيْفَ إلاَّ ذُو الفِقارِ وَلا فَتَى إلاَّ عَلِيٌّ.

وَسَمِعَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ ذَلِكَ. وَقالَ جِبْرِيلُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، قَدْ عَجِبَتِ الْمَلائِكَةُ مِنْ حُسْنِ مُواسَاةِ عَلِيٍّ لَكَ بِنَفْسِهِ. فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا يَمْنَعُهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهُوَ مِنّي وَأَنا مِنْهُ. فَقالَ جِبْريلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: وَأنَا مِنْكُما.

وَكَانَ جُمْهورُ قَتْلَى أُحُدٍ مَقْتولِينَ بِسَيْفِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. وَكَانَ الفَتْحُ وَرُجُوعُ النَّاسِ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِثَباتِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.