Outcomes of the Battle of Uḥud

As far as permanent outcomes are concerned, the battle of Uḥud does not possess any special significance. Temporarily, however, this battle did cause harm to the Muslims in certain respects. Firstly, seventy men were martyred in this war, some of whom were among the most prominent Companions and the number of those who were wounded was also very large. Secondly, the Jews and hypocrites of Madīnah, who had become somewhat awe-stricken as a result of the battle of Badr now became relatively bold. As a matter of fact, ‘Abdullāh bin Ubayy and his supporters openly hurled mockery and taunt on this occasion.1 Thirdly, the Quraish of Makkah became very bold and in their hearts they began to assume that they had not only sought revenge for Badr, but even in the future, whenever they were able to collect a force and wage an attack, they could easily subdue the Muslims. Fourthly, the tribes of Arabia in general began to raise their heads with more courage.2 However, despite these losses, it is a clear fact that the victory at the battle of Uḥud could not compensate for the harm which had been sustained by the Quraish as a result of the battle of Badr. In the battle of Badr, all those chieftains of Makkah who in actuality, were the spirit of the Quraish’s national life, were destroyed. Moreover, as the Holy Qur’ān states, this nation was uprooted in the true sense of the word. Furthermore, all of this transpired at the hands of such a nation, who in terms of apparent means was completely insignificant in comparison to them. In contrast to this, undoubtedly, the Muslims suffered in the field of Uḥud, but this loss was absolutely immaterial and temporary in comparison to the loss suffered by the Quraish at Badr. The Holy Prophet(sa), who was the focal point of the Islāmic society, and was the actual target of the hostile designs of the Quraish, was alive by the Grace of God. In addition to this, all the prominent Companions, except for one or two, were all safe. Then, this defeat of the Muslims was in contestation with an army many times greater than their own in number, and far stronger in terms of equipment of war. Hence, in comparison to the magnificent triumph at Badr, the defeat of Uḥud was an insignificant thing for the Muslims, and then, in one respect, even this loss proved to be beneficial for the Muslims. For it became clear to them in the likeness of broad daylight that to tread a path in contradiction to the will and guidance of the Holy Prophet(sa) could never prove to be prosperous and beneficial. The Holy Prophet(sa) proposed to remain in Madīnah and in support of this he even related a dream of his, but they insisted upon going out to fight. The Holy Prophet(sa) positioned them at a mountain pass and very emphatically instructed them not to leave their positions under any circumstances, but in the thought of collecting spoils, they vacated their positions and descended. Although this practical mistake was committed only by a small group of people, but since human society links all people in the form of a single chain; therefore, everyone suffered as a result of this weakness, just as if any benefit had been derived, all would have shared in it equally. Hence, if the defeat of Uḥud was a cause for suffering in one respect, it also served as a beneficial lesson for the Muslims in another respect. Moreover, despite having to bear this injury, the Muslims continued to race towards their final destination in the likeness of a grand flood which hits a barrier and then rebounds in the opposite direction with even greater speed. In the Holy Qur’ān, the battle of Uḥud has primarily been mentioned in Sūrah Āl-e-‘Imrān,3 where pertinent events of the battle have been brought to light and the Muslims have been given various fundamental guidelines for the future.