THE BATTLE OF UHUD
The reason for this battle was that Quraysh wanted to avenge their tribesmen who were
killed in the battle of Badr.
It was in the middle of Shawwal, 3 A.H. near mount Uhud, which were few kilometers to
the north of Madinah. The Muslim force was 700 men, two horses, and 100 suits of armor.
50 men of the Muslim army were archers. Quraysh force was 3000 men, 200 horses, and
700 suits of armor.
In the beginning the polytheists had suffered an obvious rout. The ignominious retreat of
the enemy troops and their women accompanying them taking to their heels made the
archers certain of their victory. Uttering shouts of glee, they deserted their posts to despoil
the enemy camp. That was the main reason for the Muslim’s defeat, causing them to loose
70 men, where Quraysh lost 22 only.
MORE PRECIOUS THAN THEIR OWN LIVES
In the third year after Hijrah, the tribes of ‘Adal and Qara sent an embassador to the
Prophet (r) asking for scholars who could be sent to teach them the rudiments of faith. The
Prophet (r) sent six of his companions who included ‘Asim b. Thabith, Khubayb b. ‘Adiy and
Zayd b. Dathinna. When this party reached Ar-Raji,a place between ‘Usfan and Makkah, the
two tribes treacherously fell on them. The Muslims took out their swords to fight against
them but the assailants swore by God that they would not kill them. Three of the six Mus-
lims replied that they could not accept any undertaking given by the pagans; so they fought
and were killed. The remaining three, Zayd, Khubayb and ‘Abdullah b. Tariq surrendered.
The last companion temporarily escaped during the return trip, but was later killed by one
of the polytheists, while the remaining two were sold to the Quraysh. Hujayr b. Abu Ihab
bought Khubayb to vindicate his father Ihab and Zayd was purchased by Safawan b. Umayya
to avenge the loss of Umayya b. Khalaf.
When Zayd was taken out for execution, a number of the Quraysh including Abu Sufyan
gathered to witness the barbaric spectacle. Abu Sufyan asked Zayd, “Verily, for God’s sake,
O Zayd, don’t you wish that Muhammed had now been in your place and you with your
family?” “By God,” replied Zayd, “I don’t wish Muhammed to be hurt even by a thorn while I
should be in sweet repose with my family.” Thereupon Abu Sufyan remarked: “I have never
seen any man so much adored as Muhammed is held by his companions.” Zayd was killed
after that. (Ibn Hisham Vol. II, pp. 169-76, Al-Bukhaari, Kitab Ul-Maghazi).
Then they brought Khubayb to crucify him. He asked his executioners to allow him to offer
two rak’ats of prayer. Having performed the prayers in complete tranquility, Khubayb said
to them, “Were it not that you would think I only extended my prayer out of fear of death, I
would have prolonged my prayer.” Then he recited these verses: