Battle of Uhud

The Battle of Uhud took place in the third year of the Hijri calendar, 625 CE, and the Muslim army was able to protect Madinah and repel the attackers. The area of the martyrs of Uhud lies north of the Prophet's Mosque, about 3 km away.[1]

The battle came after the armies of Quraysh and their allies marched on Madinah to take revenge on the Muslims and avenge their dead at the Battle of Badr, and the Muslims met them at Mount Uhud.[2]

The field of the Battle of Uhud was the open ground extending between the south-western base of Mount Uhud and the adjoining Archers' Hill, also known as Jabal Aynayn, and the battle took place in the third year of the Hijri calendar.[2]

The Archers' Hill stands north of Madinah near Mount Uhud, about four kilometres from the Prophet's Mosque. It is some 180 metres long and is a historic witness to the events of the Battle of Uhud.[3]

The cause of the Battle of Uhud was the march of the armies of Quraysh and their allies towards Madinah seeking to avenge their dead at the Battle of Badr, which took place in the second year of the Hijri calendar, and the Muslims met them at Mount Uhud.[2]

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, placed fifty archers on Jabal Aynayn to protect the rear of the Muslims and instructed them not to leave it under any circumstances until his order reached them.[2][3]

The fighting began and the Muslims gained the upper hand, and the polytheists began to flee. Most of the archers thought the battle had been settled in the Muslims' favour, so they came down from the hill, paid no heed to the calls of their commander and followed the polytheists, beginning to gather the spoils.[2] The commander of the polytheists at the time, Khalid ibn al-Walid — who had not yet embraced Islam — seized the opportunity, wheeled with his horsemen around the hill and took the remaining archers by surprise, killing them, then attacked the Muslims from behind, and their ranks broke.[2]

More than seventy Companions were martyred at the Battle of Uhud, among them Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and then the polytheists withdrew.[2][9]

Their martyrdom took place in Shawwal of the third year of the Hijri calendar. Foremost among them were Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Mus'ab ibn Umayr, Abdullah ibn Jahsh, Hanzalah ibn Abi Amir (Hanzalah al-Ghasil), Abdullah ibn Jubayr, Amr ibn al-Jamuh and Abdullah ibn Hiram, may Allah be pleased with them.[4]

The head of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was wounded at the Battle of Uhud, one of his front teeth was broken, and blood flowed over his cheeks. His uncle Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib was martyred there, and concerning this the verse was revealed: "If a wound has touched you, a similar wound has touched the others."[5]

The Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery holds the graves of seventy Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, who were martyred in the battle. The cemetery lies at the foot of Mount Uhud and stands in the middle of the martyrs' square.[1]

The martyrs were buried at the site of the battle at the base of Mount Uhud, between it and Jabal Aynayn, and Muslims visit their graves, following the example of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, who visited them and prayed for them.[2]

Al-Fasih Mosque, also known as Uhud Mosque and Al-Fushah Mosque, lies on the northern side of Mount Uhud near the site of the Battle of Uhud. It is associated with the memory of the Prophet, peace be upon him, praying there after the battle had ended.[6]

It is said that the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed in that place after he and his Companions were wounded at the Battle of Uhud in the third year of the Hijri calendar.[6]

The area around Wadi Qanat witnessed the events of the Battle of Uhud in the third year of the Hijri calendar. The wadi lies south of Mount Uhud and south of the Archers' Hill, known as Jabal Aynayn.[7]

The maharis known as Shi'b al-Jirar on the slope of Mount Uhud are linked to the Prophet's biography and to the events of the great Battle of Uhud in the third year after the Hijrah, and the pass contains many early Islamic inscriptions and writings.[8]

Q: When did the Battle of Uhud take place? A: In the third year of the Hijri calendar, 625 CE.[1]

Q: Where did the Battle of Uhud take place? A: At Mount Uhud; its field was the open ground extending between the south-western base of Mount Uhud and the Archers' Hill, known as Jabal Aynayn.[2]

Q: Why did the Battle of Uhud take place? A: The armies of Quraysh and their allies marched on Madinah to take revenge on the Muslims and avenge their dead at the Battle of Badr, which took place in the second year of the Hijri calendar.[2]

Q: How many archers did the Prophet, peace be upon him, place on the Archers' Hill? A: Fifty archers, to protect the rear of the Muslims.[3]

Q: Who are the most prominent martyrs of the Battle of Uhud? A: Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, Mus'ab ibn Umayr, Abdullah ibn Jahsh, Hanzalah ibn Abi Amir, Abdullah ibn Jubayr, Amr ibn al-Jamuh and Abdullah ibn Hiram.[2][4]