Chief of the Prophets

Chief of the Prophets — Page 127

Chapter Seven 127 Later in the evening, Muḥammad sa asked the Muslims to camp. In the morning when the Islamic army started marching forward, ‘Abdullāh bin Ubayy bin Salūl said: Muḥammad sa did not pay heed to my advice, and being swayed by inexperienced youngsters has come out of Madīnah. Hence, I cannot remain with him and fight. He returned to Madīnah with 300 soldiers. 1 The Islamic army was now left with only 700 men to face an army of 3,000, and further, they were no match for the disbelievers with respect to the number of riders and the quantity of armour. Some of the Muslims began to lose courage at the departure of ‘Abdullāh bin Ubayy bin Salūl, 2 but since their hearts still possessed the enlightenment of faith, they overcame those thoughts. Muḥammad sa , trusting God camped at the foot of the Uḥud Mountain. There was a mountain pass behind the army from where it was possible for the enemy to attack them. Muḥammad sa stationed 50 archers on the passage under the command of ‘Abdullāh bin Jubair to guard it, and said: Listen, this mountain pass should not be left empty under any circumstances. Even if you see that we have become victorious, and the enemy has fled in defeat, do not leave this place; and if you see that the Muslims have been defeated, and the enemy has prevailed upon us, do not move from this place. 3 According to another tradition he said: Even if you see that vultures are tearing away at our remains, do not budge from this place until you receive an order to leave. 4 1 Ibni Hishām and Ibni Sa‘d. 2 The Qur’ān, Āl ‘Imrān 3: 122 to 130 3 Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī (Book of Expeditions Led by Muḥammad sa ). 4 Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihād (Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah).