(17) باب غَزْوَةِ أُحُدٍ
Narrated Al-Bara:
We faced the pagans on that day (of the battle of Uhud) and the Prophet (ﷺ) placed a batch of archers (at a
special place) and appointed `Abdullah (bin Jubair) as their commander and said, "Do not leave this
place; if you should see us conquering the enemy, do not leave this place, and if you should see
them conquering us, do not (come to) help us," So, when we faced the enemy, they took to their heels
till I saw their women running towards the mountain, lifting up their clothes from their legs, revealing
their leg-bangles. The Muslims started saying, "The booty, the booty!" `Abdullah bin Jubair said,
"The Prophet (ﷺ) had taken a firm promise from me not to leave this place." But his companions refused
(to stay). So when they refused (to stay there), (Allah) confused them so that they could not know
where to go, and they suffered seventy casualties. Abu Sufyan ascended a high place and said, "Is
Muhammad present amongst the people?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not answer him." Abu Sufyan said, "Is the son of Abu Quhafa present among
the people?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not answer him." `Abu Sufyan said, "Is the son of Al-Khattab
amongst the people?" He then added, "All these people have been killed, for, were they alive, they
would have replied." On that, `Umar could not help saying, "You are a liar, O enemy of Allah! Allah
has kept what will make you unhappy." Abu Sufyan said, "Superior may be Hubal!" On that the
Prophet said (to his companions), "Reply to him." They asked, "What may we say?" He said, "Say:
Allah is More Elevated and More Majestic!" Abu Sufyan said, "We have (the idol) Al-`Uzza, whereas
you have no `Uzza!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to his companions), "Reply to him." They said, "What may we
say?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Say: Allah is our Helper and you have no helper." Abu Sufyan said, "(This)
day compensates for our loss at Badr and (in) the battle (the victory) is always undecided and shared
in turns by the belligerents. You will see some of your dead men mutilated, but neither did I urge this
action, nor am I sorry for it." Narrated Jabir: Some people took wine in the morning of the day of
Uhud and were then killed as martyrs.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4043, 4044
In-book reference: Book 64, Hadith 90
USC-MSA web (English) reference(deprecated numbering scheme): Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 375