Surah Al-i-‘Imrân 3:121

3:121-127 The verses refer to the Battle of Uhad which was fought in the third year after Hijrah. After suffering a defeat at Badr, the Pagans of Makkah were determined to expunge their disgrace and annihilate the Muslims in Madînah. A well-equipped army of 3,000 warriors marched against Madînah under the leadership of Abû Sufyân. When the Holy Prophet (pbuh) heard of this, he consulted his Companions. ‘Abdullâh bin Ubayy bin Salûl and certain elderly Companions were of the opinion that they should defend themselves by remaining in the city. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) was also of the same view. However, the majority of his followers were eager to march out of Madînah and meet the enemy in a pitched battle. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) respected the vote of the majority. To meet the danger the Holy Prophet (pbuh) decided to take a defensive position at Mount Uhad, which dominated the city of Madînah some three miles to the north, on the morning on the seventh day of Shawwal 3 A.H. (January, 625 A.D.). As a precaution, he stationed fifty archers on a hilltop in the rear of the Muslim army under the leadership of ‘Abdullâh bin Jubair in case the enemy attacked from the rear. The archers were given the express order not to leave their position until ordered by the Prophet (pbuh) himself. They were expected to remain in place under all circumstances, even if they saw the Makkans fleeing before the Muslims or the Muslim fighters being defeated and killed. In the beginning, the battle went well for the Muslims. The enemy made three consecutive general assaults and was repulsed each time. At last, the enemy wavered; its forces broke and retreated. At this moment, the Muslim archers became lax and disagreed among themselves about the sense of the orders given to them by the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Forty of them disobeyed their leader and left their positions to join in the pursuit and share in the booty. Khalid bin Walîd, who was among the leaders of the Makkan army, took advantage of the weakness created by the archers and attacked with the help of his party of horsemen, killing the few remaining men with their leader ‘Abdullâh bin Jubair. They then attacked the Muslim army from the rear. There was intense hand-to-hand fighting. More than seventy of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) fell in the Battle. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) himself received wounds to his head and face. This was nevertheless only a temporary setback for the Muslim army, as Abû Sufyân and his Makkan army thought it more prudent to withdraw. Madînah was saved and the Muslims learned a lesson in faith, constancy, and firmness. Uhad is as much a symbol as Badr in this respect.