The sun had now risen and the Prophet's army had been detected so Abu Sufyan gave the order to advance. Instead of the customary beat of the drum that proceeded hostilities, the Koraysh womenfolk, led by Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, burst into impassioned songs as they beat their tambourines. The themes of many of their songs were in praise of those killed at Badr and cried out for their menfolk not to forget but to remember, and revenge themselves so that the honor of their tribe might be restored.
CALLS FOR DESERTION
The armies were but a short distance from each other when Abu Sufyan halted his men and called upon the Ansar to desert the Prophet (sa). He had not anticipated either the strength of their belief or the courage Allah had given the Ansar nor yet their undivided loyalty and love they had for His Prophet (sa), and so Abu Sufyan had, not long before, assured his men that they could count upon the Ansar to turn and desert. The unexpected Ansar's reply came quickly as they hurled stones and invoked curses upon him; he had indeed miscalculated their response. A former resident of Medina, Abu Amir, whose son Hanzalah had married Jamilah the day before, had, unknown to Hanzalah, joined with the Koraysh against the Prophet (sa). Abu Amir had claimed for many years that he followed the ways of Prophet Abraham and in light of his claim one might have supposed he would have embraced Islam, for both prophets preached the same message that Allah is One and that it is He alone that is to be worshipped. However, stubborn pride stood in his way and he chose to side with the pagan idolaters which was totally against the teachings of Prophet Abraham. If, as he claimed, that followed Prophet Abraham he would have recognized not only the truth in all the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (sa) but also seen these teachings implemented in his exemplary day−to−day life as well as that of Hanzalah and the companions of the Prophet (sa). Before Islam Abu Amir had been highly thought of by the people Medina and regarded as being a pious person. He too thought that the Ansar would listen to him if he called upon them to lay down their arms and desert the Prophet (sa). His pride was soon shattered after he called out, "Do you remember me, I am Abu Amir!" "Yes, you evil−doer," came the reply, "we recognize you, may Allah frustrate your wickedness!" The Koraysh standard bearer, Talha, now stepped forward and cried out in challenging mockery: "Muslims, is there any amongst you that can send me to Hell, or else enter Paradise under my hand!" Ali was quick to respond and smote him with his sword. Talha's mockery then fell upon himself. Othman, one of Talha's two brothers, grabbed hold of the standard whilst the Koraysh womenfolk goaded him into taking revenge chanting, "It is the duty of the standard bearer to dip his spear in blood or to break it on the enemy!" This time Hamza stepped out to meet Othman wielding his double edge sword saying: "I am the son of Saki Hajaj!," which referred to the honored position his father had held to provide water for the pilgrims. With that he struck Othman on his shoulder with such force that his sword slit him right down to his waist. During the course of the hostilities the sword of Abdullah, Jahsh's son, was smote from his hand, and no matter how hard he searched for it, it could not be found. He returned to the Prophet (sa) to ask for a replacement. However, there were none to be had, so, as at the Encounter of Badr, the Prophet picked up a palm branch, gave it to him and it was transformed into a sword and Abdullah rejoined the hostilities.
THE BRAVERY OF HAMZA, ALI AND ABU DUJANAH
By now the Koraysh womenfolk had retreated to a safe distance where they continued to incite their men to fight. Hamza, Ali and Abu Dujanah were foremost in leading the Muslim attack and plunged deep into the ranks of the enemy. Their gallantry succeeded in disrupting the lines of the enemy and as they advanced they killed or injured anyone in their path. As Abu Dujanah turned to engage his next combatant, his sword touched the hand of Hind whereupon he quickly withdrew it as he knew it would be unworthy for the sword of the Prophet (sa) to kill a woman.
THE MARTYDOM OF HAMZA
In the meantime, the Muslim archers from their vantage point on the mountain's slope, directed their shots at Khalid and his cavalry, and many fell. As the hostilities intensified, the Abyssinian slave, Wahshi, searched for Hamza and did not concern himself with the fighting. The moment he awaited to earn his freedom was near at hand. Hamza was about to put an end to a standard bearer and in doing so, just as he raised his sword, a gap in his armor laid bear his navel. Wahshi seized upon the moment, threw his spear with such accuracy and force that it went right through Hamza's navel. Valiantly, Hamza tried to continue to fight but his legs collapsed and he lay martyred on the field of Uhud. Wahshi cared nothing for the fighting going on around him and made his way to Hamza's martyred body, retrieved his spear and returned to the camp saying, "I have achieved my aim. I killed him only for the sake of gaining my freedom." KORAYSH STANDARD BEARERS Before the hostilities commenced Abu Sufyan had spoken of the disgrace that had befallen them at Badr when their standard bearers had allowed themselves to be taken prisoner. He told his army that on no account should this be allowed to happen again. The Koraysh standard bearers started to fall one after the other, but until that moment there had always been someone to grasp the standard before it touched the ground. As yet another standard bearer fell, Sawab grasped it from him, whereupon a Muslim struck him with such a severe blow that both his hands were severed. Sawab fell to the ground but managed to prevent the standard from touching it and held the standard pressed tightly to his chest. As he was died he was heard crying out, "I have done my duty!" During the confusion of the hostilities none of the Koraysh realized that their standard had fallen until one of their womenfolk saw it being trampled upon the ground and rushed over to raise it up. The Koraysh rallied around her and for a brief moment there was a resurgence of effort.
THE MARTYDOM OF HANZALAH
Hanzalah had thrown himself into the hostilities and was now at its center engaging Abu Sufyan in fierce combat. He was at the point of dispatching him when a man from Layth came to Abu Sufyan's aid and thrust his spear into Hanzalah. Hanzalah fell and Layth delivered a further thrust and the vision of his bride, Jamilah, was fulfilled. As Hanzalah was being martyred, the Prophet (sa) was made aware of his circumstances by the angels and turned gently to his companions saying, "The angels are washing your companion." Later, when the Prophet (sa) spoke to Jamilah, he comforted her telling her that he had witnessed the angels taking her husband's body and washing it between the heavens and earth with water collected from the clouds in silver vessels. Jamilah told the Prophet (sa) of her vision and that when she had told Hanzalah what she had seen he had been so anxious to join him that he left before taking a major shower.
THE DISOBEYED ORDER
Despite their overwhelming numbers, the Koraysh army had been beaten back and forced to retreat. Victory now lay insight for the Prophet's army and the opportunity to seize the spoils of war presented itself to those on the battlefield whilst the archers entrusted to hold a strategic position on the mountain slope, looked down and saw their companions helping themselves to the spoils of war. Many of the archers thought the hostilities were over and were eager to claim their share of the spoils and decided to abandon their position despite the Prophet's instruction. Their commander, Abdullah, Jubair's son, entreated them not to abandon their posts but the temptation was too great and all but a few obeyed the Prophet's instruction and remained loyal at their posts. Khalid, Waleed's son, noticed that many of the archers had left their posts. Hastily, he regrouped his men and seized the opportunity to launch an attack on the Muslims from the rear. With the weakened position of the archers the assault was successful and Abdullah, along with the few that remained faithful to the instruction of the Prophet (sa) were martyred defending their posts. The way was now open for Khalid as he led an attack down upon the unsuspecting Muslims who were busy dividing the spoils of war. Ikrima observed Khalid's actions and rallied his men to come to Khalid's assistance and joined him on the battlefield. Chaos reigned as the unbelievers charged forward on their horses shouting the names of their gods in defiance and the advantage started to slip away from the Muslims. When some of the Muslims saw the onslaught they became filled with fear and fled to the safety of the mountain despite the Prophet's order to return and help their ailing companions to fight.
WAHB
The Muslims started to loose ground rapidly and were now being forced to retreat to the mountain where the Prophet (sa) and his close companions were stationed. Fear for the Prophet's safety was paramount in the heart of many. Wahb and Harith from the tribe of Muzaynah were the first to reach him and rallied to his side followed by other warriors who took up their bows and kept the unbelievers at bay with volleys of arrows. Among the believers who took up their bows in defense of the Prophet (sa) were the ladies Umm Sulaym, Nusaybah and Umm Umara as well as several other ladies that had now joined them. Suddenly, the Prophet (sa) noticed a party of unbelievers riding towards them on the left−hand side. The Prophet (sa) asked, "Who will take these on?" Without hesitation, Wahb engaged them and shot his arrows with such accuracy and speed that the unbelievers were forced to retreat. No sooner than Wahb had rid them of their first batch of unbelievers, another batch was seen approaching. The Prophet (sa) asked again for a volunteer to take on the unbelievers and once more Wahb rose to the occasion. With the same precision and speed, Wahb dispatched volleys of arrows into the midst of the unbelievers at such a rate one might have thought it impossible for just one man to deliver such an amazing shower of arrows, and yet again the unbelievers fled. Arrows were now in short supply when a third party of unbelievers emerged and the Prophet (sa) asked once more, "Who will take these on?" Wahb offered his services once more, whereupon the Prophet (sa) told him, "Arise and rejoice, Paradise is yours." As Wahb drew his sword he said, " By Allah, I will neither spare nor wish to be spared," and so single handedly, Wahb fought the unbelievers and as he fought the Prophet (sa) supplicated for the Mercy of Allah upon him. Wahb fought valiantly paying no attention to the multiple wounds he sustained. At last the unbelievers succeeded in cornering him and so the promise of the Prophet (sa) came to be. When his companions went to bury Wahab, they found he had sustained no less than twenty spear wounds as well as multiple sword wounds.
ABU BAKR AND HIS SON ABDUL KA'BA
As the Koraysh drew closer a challenge rang throughout the air, "I am the son of Atik, who will come out against me!" The challenger referred to his ancestor and was none other than Lady Ayesha's brother Abdul Ka'ba, the son of Abu Bakr −− the only male member of his family not to enter Islam. Immediately, Abu Bakr threw down his bow and drew his sword prepared to engage his son in combat. When the Prophet (sa) saw what Abu Bakr had done, he told him compassionately to return his sword to its hilt and go back to his place and give him his company instead.
ZIYAD, SON OF SUKAIN AND THE ANSARS
Shortly after this the Koraysh cavalry penetrated the Muslim line of defense and Abu Bakr's son retreated. The Prophet (sa) now asked his companions, "Who will sell themselves for us?" No sooner had the request been made than Ziyad, Sukain's son together with either five or seven Ansar −− their number is uncertain −− with swords in hand plunged themselves at the enemy. All were martyred except Ziyad who fell to the ground after sustaining a life−threatening wound. It was thought that Ziyad had been martyred along with his companions when the Prophet (sa) noticed Ziyad doing his best to crawl back towards them. Immediately the Prophet (sa) sent two of his companions to bring Ziyad to him. Gently, the companions picked Ziyad up, brought him to the Prophet (sa) and laid him down with his head resting on the Prophet's foot whilst the Angel of Death took away his martyred soul.
THE STONE
Due to the increased deterioration of their situation, Ali, Talha, Abu Dujanah and Zubair, who had fought at front line of the encounter since its beginning, started to fear for the Prophet (sa) and decided to fight their way back to him. When they reached him they found that an unbeliever had managed to come within close range of the Prophet (sa) and hurled a sharp stone at him. The stone had struck the Prophet (sa) on his lower lip, chipped a tooth and blood flowed from the wound. The Prophet (sa) assured his companions that he was all right and that there was no need for concern, so all except Talha, who had now fainted on account of the amount of blood he had lost during the hostilities, returned to the battlefield. However, his condition was only momentary and the Prophet (sa) asked Abu Bakr, who was Talha's cousin, to tend to his needs. Sa’ad from the tribe of Zuhra and Harith from the tribe of Khazraj took Talha's place on the battlefield. Together they fought with all their might and gained some ground. However, their gain was short lived and once more the Koraysh and their allies advanced.
THE INJURY OF THE PROPHET (sa)
The fighting around the Prophet (sa) intensified. Abu Dujanah now protected the Prophet (sa) using his back as a shield and had been hit by many arrows. The reputation of Abu Talha, step−father of Anas, as an excellent archer had been well tried that morning, he had fired so many arrows that three bows lay broken on the ground, now, with his shield he did his very best to protect the Prophet's face from injury. During the turmoil of the hostilities, with arrows falling like rain from the sky, an unbeliever made his way undetected through the Prophet's guards. The man was Abdullah, Kami'ah's son, a warrior of repute from a distant branch of the Koraysh, responsible for the martyrdom of many a Muslim that day. To everyone's surprise he now called out, "Where is Muhammad, may I not survive if he survives!" Just then, he caught sight of the Prophet (sa) and charged towards him brandishing his sword in the air and smote the Prophet (sa) on his helmet with such a forceful blow that the links on either side of his helmet dug deeply into his cheeks and for a moment he fell stunned to the ground as Abdullah, made a quick retreat. But before he got away Umm Umara managed to strike Abdullah, whereupon he struck back and she sustained a major injury to her shoulder, however, he remained unharmed as he wore a double suit of armor. Nusaybah also fought alongside Umm Umara but remained unscathed. When the companions saw the extent of his injuries they became very distraught and exclaimed, "If only you would supplicate for a curse against them!" But the Prophet (sa) turned to them and said in his every caring and gentle manner, "I was not sent to curse, rather I was sent to invite and as a mercy." Such was his mercy and forbearance toward them that he supplicated for those who opposed him saying, "O Allah, guide my tribesmen because they do not know." When Omar heard the Prophet's reply he remarked, "O Messenger of Allah (sa), may my mother and father be your ransom! Noah supplicated against his people when he said, ‘My Lord, do not leave a single unbeliever upon the earth.’ If you had supplicated for a curse like that, all of us would have been destroyed. Your back has been trodden upon, your face bloodied and your tooth broken, and yet you decline to say anything other than good." Once again we are given a glimpse into our beloved Prophet's excellent character. He could have remained silent and done nothing but he chose otherwise. He pardoned them, then supplicated for their guidance and pleaded for them because they did not understand. And so another part of the Prophet's vision had been fulfilled −− the dent in his sword −− which he explained would be a wound against his person. Talha had tried to deflect the blow away from the Prophet (sa) and in doing so the fingers of one hand sustained such a harsh blow that it is reported that either his fingers were severed or that he lost the use of his fingers on one hand. Shammas from the tribe of Makzum now stood in front of the Prophet (sa) and fought with outstanding bravery against a fresh onslaught until he fell whereupon another companion took his place. A short while before, when the unbelievers had seen the Prophet (sa) fall they raised the cry: "Muhammad is dead!" and proceeded to exalt their gods. The cry had a devastating effect on the Muslims and many despaired. Mus'ab, Umair's son, the standard bearer of the Prophet (sa) bore a slight resemblance to the Prophet (sa), and was martyred by Abdullah, Kami'ah's son. In the chaos of the fighting it was thought that it was the Prophet (sa) himself who had martyred, and yet again the mistaken cry rang out that the Prophet (sa) had been martyred. Despair engulfed the hearts of many Muslims as they thought their Prophet (sa) had been taken from them. The Muslims were devastated by the misinformation and in their suspended state of paralysis soon found themselves almost completely surrounded by unbelievers, but they continued to fight for the sake of the truth the Prophet (sa) had entrusted to them. Once again, Ali fought courageously and put many to the sword, but as he fought he looked constantly for the Prophet (sa) as he did not believe the rumor. Such was Omar's despondency that he had thrown down his sword. The uncle of Anas, ibn Nadr chanced to see him and asked what he was doing. Omar replied, "Is there any reason to fight; the Messenger of Allah (sa) is no longer with us." Ibn Nadr was horrified by the news and exclaimed, "Life is not worth living now that he is no more!" and rushed off into the hostilities and was martyred.
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