The Sealed Nectar (33 page)

Short of Allâh’s Care, the hypocrite’s plot would have been successful. Banu Haritha of Al- Aws and Banu Salama of Al- Khazraj were partially impressed by the hypocrite’s behaviour. Both of them were overwhelmed by confusion and they had almost started to withdraw, but Allâh’s Care saved them from that disgrace. About their incident Allâh says:

"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."
[Al- Qur'an 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:

"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 to disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths
what was not in their hearts. And Allâh has full knowledge of what they
conceal."
[Al- Qur'an 3:167]

The Remainder of the Islamic Army are on the Move to Uhud
With the remainder of fighters, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] 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 [pbuh], 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

[pbuh] said:

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"Do not kill him. He is blind in heart and eyes."

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] 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

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] 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."[Ibn Hisham 2/65,66]

He added:

"Defend our backs! If you see us slain. Do not come to assist us; and if you
see gaining grounds, do not share us."
[Fath Al- Bari 7/350]

In a version by Al- Bukhâri the Prophet [pbuh] said:

"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."
[Sahih Al- Bukhari, the Book of Jihad 1/426]

With the assignment of this squad and locating it on the mountainside and the issuance of those strict military orders, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] 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 [pbuh] 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

[pbuh] 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 [pbuh] possessed. No other leader could have drawn a more 160

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accurate or wise plan. Although he approached the site later than the enemy, he managed to occupy better positions. He made the rocky mountainside to function as shield for the army’s rear and right flank. He was able, by blocking the only vulnerable gap on the side, to provide additional maximum protection for the rear as well as the left wing. For fear of possible defeat, and to deter the Muslims from fleeing, in which case they would fall easy prisoners in the hands of the enemy, he chose a high place for encampment. Moreover a strategic site of this sort would surely inflict heavy losses on the polytheists if they thought of approaching or occupying his positions. In a further step, he reduced the enemy to a narrow scope of choice when they were cornered for encampment in geographically low positions that would avail them nothing of the benefits of any possible victory; at the same time they would not be able to escape the pursuit of the Muslims in case victory sided with the latter. To make up for the quantitative shortage in fighting personnel, he chose a picked body of fighters to stand at the front.

The army of the Prophet [pbuh] was thus fully mobilized on Shawwal 7th, 3 A.H.

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] implants the Spirit of Bravery among his Armed
Forces

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] forbade the Muslims to start the fight without having an order from him. He, then, wore two armours — a front armour and a back one.

He urged his Companions to fight and spurred them to show stamina and steadfastness at fight. He started to implant the spirit of boldness and bravery in them. To wage and inflame his Companions and in order to standfast in the fight, he took a sharp sword, held it in his hand and called out unto his Companions and said:

"Who is ready to take this sword and give it its proper due?" Many a man set out to take it. Some of them were ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, Az- Zubair bin Al- ‘Awwam and ‘Umar bin Al- Khattab. But it was granted to none. Abu Dujana Sammak bin Kharsha inquired:

"O Messenger of Allâh, what is its price?" The Prophet [pbuh] said: "It is to strike the enemy’s faces with it till it was bent." So Abu Dujana said: "O Messenger of Allâh I will take it for that price." and he was given the sword.

Abu Dujana was a man of courage who used to swagger at war. He had a red band which he wore round his head. Whenever he was head- banded everybody knew that he was determined to fight to death. Therefore as soon as Abu Dujana took the Prophet [pbuh]’s sword, he banded his head and started strutting amongst the fighters.

Watching him doing that, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] said: "This is a sort of walking that Allâh detests except in such a situation."

Recruitment of the Makkan Army

The idolaters applied the rows system in the mobilization of their army. The general leadership of the army was entrusted to Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb, who would be in the centre- position of the army. Khalid bin Al- Waleed was on the right wing; whereas

‘Ikrima, the son of Abu Jahl was on the left. Safwan bin Omaiya was in charge of infantry men. The archers were under the command of ‘Abdullah bin Abi Rabi‘a.

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As for the standard, a squad of Bani ‘Abd Ad- Dar were in charge to bear it. Thus was the distribution of the posts of the army ever since ‘Abd Munaf had already assigned them. This assignment had been inherited from Qusai bin Kilab — as we have previously alluded to in an early phase of this book. No one had the right to compete them with it. It was consistent with their traditions that they had inherited from their ancestors.

Abu Sufyan, the general leader, reminded his men — the standard bearers — of what had happened to Quraish on Badr Day (i.e. battle) when their standard bearer, An-Nadr bin Al- Harith, was captured. In an attempt to wage their anger and enmity to the Muslims he said: "O Bani ‘Abd Ad- Dar! You have been assigned bearers of our standard and you know that the standard is the first thing that the enemy attacks.

Should it fall, we fall down too. Therefore, I say either you guarantee its safety or leave it for us, and we will certainly suffice you that task."

Abu Sufyan’s attempt seemed to be fruitful. For his speech made Bani ‘Abd Ad- Dar so extremely angry that they threatened him and almost attacked him for that.

Addressing him, they said: "You want us to deliver you the custodianship of the standard? Tomorrow when we fight them, you will witness our deeds." As a matter of fact, they fought bravely and stoodfast in defence of the standard till they were all killed.

Political Manoeuvres of Quraish

A little time before the break out of the battle, Quraish made some endeavours to sow the seeds of discord and dispute among the Muslims. First, Abu Sufyan sent to the Helpers a message saying: "Leave us alone to fight our cousins and do not interfere. If you stand aside, we will not fight you; for fighting you is not a target of ours." But that attempt proved to be fruitless. What could such a wicked scheme do to those whose Faith was as solid and firm as mountains?! The Helpers reply was undoubtedly disappointing and contrary to Abu Sufyan’s expectations.

The zero- hour was due. The two parties drew nearer. Undespaired by the first failure, Quraish made another attempt, for the same purport but now with the assistance of a traitor called Abu ‘Amir Al- Fasiq, whose name was ‘Abd ‘Amr bin Saifi.

He was called a monk, but the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] nicknamed him
Al- Fâsiq
(i.e. perverted transgressor; dissolute). As he was the head of Aws in
Al- Jahiliya
, he could not tolerate Islam when it came. He announced his enmity to the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] in public. He left Madinah for the Quraishites in Makkah to rally them against the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] and to urge them to start the fight against him. He claimed that he was obeyed and esteemed by his people and that as soon as they saw him come they would join him immediately.

So he was the first one among the mob and slaves of Quraish to show resistance. He called out unto his people, recognized them and said: "O kinfolk of Aws! I am Abu

‘Amir." Their reply was "No eyes of anybody shall be consoled by viewing you, O

Fâsiq
." Hearing them say so, he said: "My people must have been afflicted by an evil after my departure." Therefore when the fight broke out, he fought them fiercely and pelted his people with stones, as well.

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That was how the second attempt of Quraish to sow the seeds of discord among people of Faith. This, however, revealed the great terror of the Quraishites cast in their hearts in spite of their supremacy in number and equipment.

The effort of Quraishite Women at waging the Zeal of Men
Quraishi- women participated in the battle led by the wife of Abu Sufyan, Hind bint

‘Utbah. They wandered among the rows of the idolaters, tapped on tambourines, encouraged men to fight, inflamed the emotions of heroes, lancers, swordsmen and brave fighters. At one time they addressed the standard- bearers:

"O Bani ‘Abd Ad- Dar!

O home defenders,

Strike with your sharp swords …"

And at another time they would wage people’s zeal by singing:

"If you fight (bravely), we will embrace

and unfold mats to welcome you.

But if you flee from the battlefield, we leave you,

Desert you and no more love you."

The Combat

The two parties approached and grew very close to each another. The phases of fight started. The first combatant was the standard- bearer, Talha bin Abi Talha Al- ‘Abdari, who was the most distinguished idolater. He was one of the bravest men of Quraish fighters. Muslims nicknamed him ‘the ram of the battalion.’ He came forth riding a camel and challenged the Muslims to a single combat. People refrained from fighting him due to his bravery; but Az- Zubair bin Al- ‘Awwam advanced for the fight. He did not give the ‘Ram’ any chance to fight but fell on him like a lion on his camel’s back, pulled him down to the ground and slaughtered him with his sword.

The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] who was watching that wonderful incident exclaimed:
Allâhu Akbar
that is ‘Allâh is the Greatest’ and the Muslims exclaimed
Allâhu Akbar
too. He praised Az- Zubair when he said:

"Every Prophet has a disciple and Az- Zubair is a disciple of mine."
[As-Seerah Al-Halaiyah 2/18]