Stories from Early Islam — Page 95
95 and headed towards the pass from behind the hills. They killed the remaining Muslim guards and attacked the Muslim forces from the rear. The attack was so sudden that for some time everything was in a state of confusion. The Muslims were scat- tered all over the field. Some of them had already withdrawn from the battlefield thinking that the enemy had run away. Only a handful of his Companions remained with the Holy Prophet to repel the attack. The fleeing Makkans stopped and returned when they heard the war cries of their fellows, who had attacked the Muslims from the rear. The Holy Prophet was in great danger. Those around him were falling one by one under the intensive attack of the enemy. There also came a volley of arrows directed at the Prophet. Talha, a faithful friend of the Prophet stretched out his arm to shield the face of the Holy Prophet from the arrows. Arrow after arrow struck his arm and pierced through his hand. He saw blood, felt pain, but did not let his arm drop. Ultimately he lost the use of his arm. Stones were also hurled at the Prophet. One hit him in the face. Then came another blow which drove the rings of his helmet right into his cheek. He fell down uncon- scious among the heap of dead Muslim fighters. The Makkans thought that they had killed the Prophet and withdrew call- ing it a day. The Muslims also thought for a while that he had died, and the rumour spread like wild fire, so much so, that the women and children of Madinah ran out in the direction of ‘Uhud’ to discover the truth. When the remaining Muslim fighters realised what had