Battle of Uhud

The Battle of Jabal Uhud took place in 3AH (March 625 CE). The site of the battle is some four miles north of Madinah. The battle of Uhud began with the Quraysh confident they could quickly rout the smaller Muslim force, but they had failed to consider the total commitment which the followers of the Prophet brought to the battle. The fighting was fierce. The battle continued, with the Muslims taking no heed of the danger. For them, there were only two possibilities - victory on the battlefield, or paradise in the afterlife. Against such determination and conviction, the Quraysh could not stand. Despite their superior numbers, their courage failed, and, as at Badr, they fled. Although Muhammad had given clear instructions that his men should hold the line, the sight of the Makkans fleeing was too much for most of the faithful. Before them lay the booty of the Qurayshi army and, disregarding the remonstrations of their commanders, they rushed to claim their share. Even the bowmen, who from the high ground had wrought such havoc among the enemy, left their assigned positions to join in the search for the spoils of war. But the Quraysh realized that this indiscipline offered them the chance to reverse their defeat. The Qurayshi cavalry attacked the high ground and quickly broke through what little was left of the Muslim defensive formation. Now the life of the Prophet himself was in jeopardy. Muhammad engaged in the desperate battle. The Muslims were in disarray. Most were caught in the deserted camp of the Quraysh. They now found they must abandon their quest for booty and fight for their lives. Those of the faithful who had remained with the Prophet fought valiantly in his defense. Abu Dujanah used his own body as a shield to protect the Prophet against the arrows of the enemy. The indiscipline of some of the faithful had enabled Abu Sufyan, the Qurayshi leader, to turn defeat into victory. 'In one year, at Badr,' Abu Sufyan had cried out, issuing a challenge to the Muslims to face the Makkan forces once again, implying that the followers of the Prophet would be finally defeated at the scene of their earlier single victory.