8 ISLAM AT WAR
- Whoso on that day turneth his back on them, unless maneuvering for
battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from
Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s end.
Surah VIII, 12–14, implies that Allah will smite nonbelievers through
his soldiers. This is the carrot to the faithful. Surah VIII, 15–16, is the
stick. The Koran clearly says that running away from the enemy will
condemn the Muslim warrior to hell. It is fascinating to see that the phras-
ing of these passages does allow for soldiers to maneuver at appropriate
times. This was completely within the tradition of the hit-and-run style of
warfare practiced by the nomadic desert tribesmen. One can consider these
passages in the context of Muhammad’s next battle, Mt. Uhud.
Unfortunately for Muhammad, his victory at Badr was not decisive.
The very next year the Meccans, under Abu Sufyan, would avenge their
defeat at the Battle of Mt. Uhud inA.D. 625. Muhammad was heavily
outnumbered, but, nevertheless, came near victory. The Muslim army
numbered about 700 men, and the Meccan forces, under Abu Sufyan, were
around four times their strength. However, Muhammad, victorious in the
initial engagement, was betrayed by a force of fifty archers that had been
ordered to block a pass and prevent the Meccan cavalry from passing
through. While Muhammad’s men looted and pillaged the spoils of their
victory, these fifty archers abandoned their post to join the pillage. As fate
would have it, the Meccan cavalry arrived and moved through the now
unguarded pass to strike the disorganized Muslims in the midst of plun-
dering. Muhammad was wounded and initially thought slain. His uncle,
Hazrat Hamza, was killed. When Muhammad was found only wounded,
his band circled around him and fought their way clear of the field, es-
caping into the desert. The Meccan victory at Uhud was short-lived,
though, and the initiative returned to Muhammad.
The following day, Muhammad again went out with his army to show
himself and to deter the possibility of a Meccan attack on Medina. He
encountered and conversed with a friendly Bedawi tribesman. This Be-
dawi then met the Meccan forces, where he was questioned by abu-
Sufyan, the enemy leader. On hearing that Muhammad was alive, in the
field, and thirsting for revenge, abu-Sufyan decided to withdraw and re-
turned to Mecca.
This drawn battle was not positive in its immediate effect. As some will
always wish to support the winning side, many Arab tribes and the He-
brews, who had a treaty with Muhammad, saw the defeat at Uhud as
meaning that the Muslims were losing. They shifted their allegiance to-
ward Mecca. Perceiving the Muslims as weakened, these groups attacked