Detailed Account

Seeking revenge for Badr, Abu Sufyan led a Makkan army of 3,000 soldiers with 200 cavalry toward Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ gathered his companions for consultation—his personal inclination and older companions favored defensive fighting within the city, while younger companions preferred meeting the enemy in open battle. Following the majority opinion, he led 1,000 Muslims toward Mount Uhud, but Abdullah ibn Ubayy withdrew with 300 hypocrites, leaving only 700 Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ organized his remaining forces strategically: positioning the army with Mount Uhud protecting their rear, placing 50 archers under Abdullah ibn Jubayr on a strategic pass with explicit orders not to leave regardless of the battle's outcome ('Even if you see birds snatching at us, do not leave your positions'). Initially, Muslims gained the upper hand with fighters like Hamza, Ali, and Abu Dujanah demonstrating exceptional valor. However, when Muslim forces appeared victorious and began collecting spoils, the archers abandoned their position despite their commander's protests. Khalid ibn al-Walid (then a non-Muslim) quickly led a cavalry attack from behind, turning the tide. In the ensuing chaos, rumors spread that the Prophet ﷺ had been killed (after he was injured and fell into a ditch), causing many Muslims to flee. A core group including Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, and Talhah fought desperately to protect him. Approximately 70 Muslims were martyred, including Hamza (the Prophet's uncle) whose body was mutilated by Hind bint Utbah. The battle concluded with neither side achieving decisive victory. Though physically defeated, the Muslims maintained control of the battlefield's aftermath, with Abu Sufyan withdrawing to Makkah rather than attacking Madinah. This partial defeat tested the believers, revealed the hypocrites, taught valuable military and spiritual lessons, and is extensively addressed in the Quran (Surah Al-Imran 3:121-179), which explains divine wisdom in both victory and defeat.