PART 4 · THE MADINAN PERIOD · الْعَهْدُ الْمَدَنِيُّ
STAGE 2 · DEFENDING THE MESSAGE
غَزْوَةُ أُحُدٍ
Chapter 21: The Battle of Uḥud
A hill, an order, a test — and the lesson of obedience
Sheikh Mohamed Fawzyالشيخ محمد فوزي
© 2026 Sheikh Mohamed Fawzy. All rights reserved. Version 1.7
Shawwāl, 3 AH شَوَّالٌ، السَّنَةُ الثَّالِثَةُ
Quraysh come for revenge
A big army
One year after Badr, Quraysh marched to Madinah with about 3,000 men to take revenge. They camped near Mount Uḥud, north of Madinah.
Consultation
The Prophet ﷺ consulted the Companions: stay inside Madinah, or go out to meet them? Many — especially those who had missed Badr (Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm) — wanted to go out, and he went out with them.
The consultation before Uḥud: Musnad Aḥmad (14787), from Jābir — al-Arna’ūṭ graded it ṣaḥīḥ through its other chains; al-Bukhari mentions it without a chain in a chapter heading (Kitāb al-I‘tiṣām). Date (Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm): Saturday 7 Shawwāl, 3 AH (March 625 CE); Ibn Isḥāq says 15 Shawwāl.
The hypocrites رُجُوعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ
A third of the army turns back
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: لَمَّا خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى أُحُدٍ، رَجَعَ نَاسٌ مِمَّنْ خَرَجَ مَعَهُ، وَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِرْقَتَيْنِ، فِرْقَةً تَقُولُ نُقَاتِلُهُمْ. وَفِرْقَةً تَقُولُ لَا نُقَاتِلُهُمْ. فَنَزَلَتْ ﴿فَمَا لَكُمْ فِي الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَاللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُوا﴾ ...
Zayd ibn Thābit said: “When the Prophet ﷺ went out to Uḥud, some of those who had gone out with him turned back. The companions of the Prophet ﷺ were divided into two groups about them: one group said, ‘We should fight them,’ and the other said, ‘We should not fight them.’ So this was revealed: ‘What is [the matter] with you, [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back because of what they earned?’ [al-Nisā’ 4:88]…”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4050Sahih
The Prophet ﷺ went out with about 1,000 men; after about 300 turned back, about 700 remained to face 3,000 (Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm).
The battlefield أَرْضُ الْمَعْرَكَةِ
Mount Uḥud behind, the archers on the hill
A clear order أَمْرُ الرُّمَاةِ
“Do not leave this place of yours”
عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: جَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى الرَّجَّالَةِ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَكَانُوا خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ فَقَالَ «إِنْ رَأَيْتُمُونَا تَخْطَفُنَا الطَّيْرُ، فَلَا تَبْرَحُوا مَكَانَكُمْ هَذَا حَتَّى أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ، وَإِنْ رَأَيْتُمُونَا هَزَمْنَا الْقَوْمَ وَأَوْطَأْنَاهُمْ فَلَا تَبْرَحُوا حَتَّى أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ». فَهَزَمُوهُمْ ...
al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib said: “On the day of Uḥud, the Prophet ﷺ put ‘Abdullāh ibn Jubayr in charge of the men on foot [the archers] — they were fifty men — and said: ‘Even if you see birds snatching us away, do not leave this place of yours until I send for you. And if you see that we have defeated the enemy and trampled them, do not leave until I send for you.’ And they [the Muslims] defeated them.…”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3039Sahih
The turning point مُخَالَفَةُ الْأَمْرِ
“Have you forgotten what the Messenger of Allah told you?”
قَالَ الْبَرَاءُ: ... فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ الْغَنِيمَةَ أَيْ قَوْمِ الْغَنِيمَةَ، ظَهَرَ أَصْحَابُكُمْ فَمَا تَنْتَظِرُونَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ أَنَسِيتُمْ مَا قَالَ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ لَنَأْتِيَنَّ النَّاسَ فَلَنُصِيبَنَّ مِنَ الْغَنِيمَةِ. فَلَمَّا أَتَوْهُمْ صُرِفَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَأَقْبَلُوا مُنْهَزِمِينَ، فَذَاكَ إِذْ يَدْعُوهُمُ الرَّسُولُ فِي أُخْرَاهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَيْرُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، فَأَصَابُوا مِنَّا سَبْعِينَ ...
al-Barā’ said: “…The companions of ‘Abdullāh ibn Jubayr said: ‘The spoils! O people, the spoils! Your companions have won — what are you waiting for?’ ‘Abdullāh ibn Jubayr said: ‘Have you forgotten what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told you?’ They said: ‘By Allah, we will go to the people and take our share of the spoils.’ When they reached them, their faces were turned back, and they came running back in defeat. That is [the meaning of the verse]: ‘…while the Messenger was calling you from behind you’ [Āl ‘Imrān 3:153]. Only twelve men remained with the Prophet ﷺ, and they [the idolaters] struck down seventy of us.…”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3039Sahih
The Qur’an explains تَعْقِيبُ الْقُرْآنِ
“Among you are some who desire this world”
وَلَقَدۡ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعۡدَهُۥٓ إِذۡ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذۡنِهِۦۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلۡتُمۡ وَتَنَٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِ وَعَصَيۡتُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمۡ عَنۡهُمۡ لِيَبۡتَلِيَكُمۡۖ وَلَقَدۡ عَفَا عَنكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١٥٢
And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing the enemy by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then he turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers.
Surat Āl ‘Imrān 3:152سورة آل عمران: ١٥٢
Victory came while they obeyed; the test came when some disobeyed. And still the verse ends: “and He has already forgiven you.”
Teach this with mercy: the Companions made a mistake in a moment of excitement, Allah Himself forgave them, and we love and respect them. The lesson is for us.
Patience مَا أَصَابَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ
“…while he is calling them to Allah”
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُسِرَتْ رَبَاعِيَتُهُ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَشُجَّ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَسْلُتُ الدَّمَ عَنْهُ وَيَقُولُ «كَيْفَ يُفْلِحُ قَوْمٌ شَجُّوا نَبِيَّهُمْ وَكَسَرُوا رَبَاعِيَتَهُ وَهُوَ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ». فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ﴿لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ﴾.
Anas said that on the day of Uḥud the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had his front tooth broken and was wounded on his head. He began wiping the blood away and saying: ‘How can a people succeed who have wounded their Prophet and broken his tooth, while he is calling them to Allah?’ Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed: ‘Not for you [O Muḥammad] is the decision in anything…’ [Āl ‘Imrān 3:128].
Sahih Muslim 1791Sahih
The martyrs of Uḥud
Seventy Muslims were martyred (al-Bukhari 3039), among them Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib, the Prophet’s uncle (al-Bukhari 4072).
A promise kept أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ
“I can smell the scent of Paradise”
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: غَابَ عَمِّي أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ عَنْ قِتَالِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، غِبْتُ عَنْ أَوَّلِ قِتَالٍ قَاتَلْتَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، لَئِنِ اللَّهُ أَشْهَدَنِي قِتَالَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيَرَيَنَّ اللَّهُ مَا أَصْنَعُ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ أُحُدٍ وَانْكَشَفَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْتَذِرُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ، يَعْنِي أَصْحَابَهُ، وَأَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ، يَعْنِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ، فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، فَقَالَ يَا سَعْدُ بْنَ مُعَاذٍ، الْجَنَّةَ، وَرَبِّ النَّضْرِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ رِيحَهَا مِنْ دُونِ أُحُدٍ. قَالَ سَعْدٌ فَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا صَنَعَ ...
Anas said: “My uncle Anas ibn al-Naḍr missed the fighting at Badr. He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I missed the first battle you fought against the idolaters. If Allah lets me witness a battle against the idolaters, Allah will see what I do.’ On the day of Uḥud, when the Muslims fell back, he said: ‘O Allah, I apologise to You for what these have done’ — meaning his companions — ‘and I declare myself free before You of what those have done’ — meaning the idolaters. Then he went forward, and Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh met him. He said: ‘O Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh — Paradise! By the Lord of al-Naḍr, I can smell its scent from beyond Uḥud.’ Sa‘d said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I could not do what he did.’…”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2805Sahih
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: ... قَالَ أَنَسٌ كُنَّا نَرَى أَوْ نَظُنُّ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ وَفِي أَشْبَاهِهِ ﴿مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ﴾ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ ...
Anas said: “…We used to think — or believe — that this verse was revealed about him and those like him: ‘Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah…’ to the end of the verse [al-Aḥzāb 33:23].…”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2805Sahih
مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رِجَالٞ صَدَقُواْ مَا عَٰهَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيۡهِۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحۡبَهُۥ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُواْ تَبۡدِيلٗا ٢٣
Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration.
Surat al-Aḥzāb 33:23سورة الأحزاب: ٢٣
The last word اللَّهُ مَوْلَانَا
“Allah is Higher and more Majestic”
قَالَ الْبَرَاءُ: ... ثُمَّ أَخَذَ يَرْتَجِزُ اُعْلُ هُبَلْ، اُعْلُ هُبَلْ. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «أَلَا تُجِيبُوا لَهُ». قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا نَقُولُ قَالَ «قُولُوا اللَّهُ أَعْلَى وَأَجَلُّ». قَالَ إِنَّ لَنَا الْعُزَّى وَلَا عُزَّى لَكُمْ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «أَلَا تُجِيبُوا لَهُ». قَالَ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا نَقُولُ قَالَ «قُولُوا اللَّهُ مَوْلَانَا وَلَا مَوْلَى لَكُمْ».
al-Barā’ said: “…Then he [Abū Sufyān, the leader of Quraysh] began to chant: ‘Be high, Hubal! Be high, Hubal!’ [Hubal was their idol.] The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Will you not answer him?’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what shall we say?’ He said: ‘Say: Allah is Higher and more Majestic.’ He [Abū Sufyān] said: ‘We have al-‘Uzzā, and you have no ‘Uzzā.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Will you not answer him?’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what shall we say?’ He said: ‘Say: Allah is our Protector, and you have no protector.’”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3039Sahih
The next day حَمْرَاءُ الْأَسَدِ
Wounded — but they answered the call
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: ﴿الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾ قَالَتْ لِعُرْوَةَ يَا ابْنَ أُخْتِي كَانَ أَبُوكَ مِنْهُمُ الزُّبَيْرُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ، لَمَّا أَصَابَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا أَصَابَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، وَانْصَرَفَ عَنْهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ خَافَ أَنْ يَرْجِعُوا قَالَ «مَنْ يَذْهَبُ فِي إِثْرِهِمْ». فَانْتَدَبَ مِنْهُمْ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلًا، قَالَ كَانَ فِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَالزُّبَيْرُ.
‘Ā’ishah [recited]: ‘Those who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them — for those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward’ [Āl ‘Imrān 3:172], and she said to ‘Urwah: “O son of my sister, your father al-Zubayr and Abū Bakr were among them. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been struck by what struck him on the day of Uḥud, and the idolaters had gone away from him, he feared that they would come back. He said: ‘Who will go after them?’ Seventy men among them volunteered.” He said: “Abū Bakr and al-Zubayr were among them.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4077Sahih
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ «هَذَا جَبَلٌ يُحِبُّنَا وَنُحِبُّهُ».
Anas reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘This is a mountain that loves us, and we love it.’
Sahih al-Bukhari 4083Sahih
Lessons دُرُوسٌ وَعِبَرٌ
What we learn
1
Obey Allah and His Messenger
The archers’ mistake shows that obedience is the way to victory (Āl ‘Imrān 3:152).
2
Patience in trials
Even the Prophet ﷺ was wounded — and he still hoped for his people’s guidance.
3
Allah forgives
Allah forgave the Companions’ mistake; a believer learns, repents and goes on.
Review مُرَاجَعَةٌ
Quick quiz
Score: 0 / 4
1.What did the Prophet ﷺ order the archers?
Correct (al-Bukhari 3039).
“Do not leave this place of yours until I send for you.”
2.Why did most of the archers leave the hill?
Right.
They thought the battle was over and went down for the spoils.
3.How many Muslims were left after the hypocrites turned back?
Correct (Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm).
About 700.
4.What did the Muslims answer when Abū Sufyān praised his idol?
Yes (al-Bukhari 3039).
“Allah is Higher and more Majestic … Allah is our Protector, and you have no protector.”
Obedience is the way to victory
ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam ﷺ
NEXT · Chapter 22: The Battle of the Trench · غَزْوَةُ الْأَحْزَابِ (الْخَنْدَقِ)