Other Battles

Other Battles

Other battles ensued after that, however, the details shall be left for other books to elaborate upon. Any number of book stores can provide a number of books that describe them in detail. Contact any of the book stores listed at the back of this book for more on this topic. Some of the highlights of these battles are: The battle of Uhud which was fought in the third year after the emigration. In this battle Muhammad (pbuh) had given the Muslims specific commands on where and how to fight. In the beginning, they followed his command and were victorious. However, no sooner did they have the pagans of Quraish on the run than they forgot his commands and were subsequently defeated. Seven hundred Muslims and roughly three thousand pagans fought in this battle. Seventy men of the Ansar and twenty two men of Quraish died in this battle. In the fifth year after the "Hijra" (the emigration), the Muslims and the pagans again met on the field of battle. This time, the men of Quraish summoned many of the tribes of Arabia and enlisted their aid. They also received the aid of another of the tribes of the Jews in the city of Al-Madinah, called the tribe of Bani-Quraidha. The city of Al-Madinah was vulnerable from one direction only, the direction of the homes of Bani-Quraidha. The Muslims made a pact with the tribe of Bani-Quraidha to protect that side of the city and not to allow the pagans entry. They, however, betrayed their pact with Muhammad and allowed the confederates to attack them from behind. This battle was named the battle of Al-Ahzab (the confederates), or the battle of Al-Khandaq (the trench). The Muslims consisted of three thousand fighters. The Pagans had managed to collect four thousand men from Quraishand six thousand from the tribe of Ghatfan in addition to their allies from the Jews of Bani-Quraidha. The Muslims dug a trench which held the pagans off for a long time, and Muhammad (pbuh) managed to employ a measure of physiological warfare against them as well. Finally Allah sent a strong wind that overthrew their pots and ripped their tents out of the ground chasing them away. It is estimated that seven Muslims and four men from the confederates died in this battle. It was in regard to this battle that the following verses were later revealed: "When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you imagined vain thoughts concerning Allah. There were the believers sorely tried, and were shaken a tremendous shaking." up to the verses: "When the Believers saw the Confederate [forces], they said: 'This is what God and his Apostle had promised us, and God and His Apostle indeed spoke the truth.' And it only added to their faith and their obedience. Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God: of them some have paid their vow by death [in battle], and some of them still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least: That God may reward the truthful for their Truth, and punish the hypocrites if He will, or relent toward them [if He will]. Verily! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And Allah repulsed the disbelievers in their fury; they gained no good. Allah averted their attack from the believers. And Allah is ever All-Strong, All-Mighty. And He brought those of the People of the Scripture who supported them down from their strongholds, and cast terror into their hearts. Some you slew, and some you made captive. And He caused you to inherit their land and their houses and their wealth, and land you have not trodden. and Allah is Able to do all things." (Qur'an 33:10-27) Immediately after they had defeated the confederates, Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims surrounded the Jews of Bani-Quraidha and finally defeated them and expelled them from the city for their breaking of the treaty and their assistance of the confederates against them.

His Bravery and Bashfulness

His Bravery and Bashfulness

Many people believe bravery and bashfulness to be self-contradictory opposites of one-another, however, in Muhammad (pbuh) we were given the example of a true balance between these two attributes. It was narrated that Muhammad (pbuh) was the most bashful of all mankind, and if he disliked a matter we (the companions) would know that from his face (his expression). Aisha (pbuh) narrated that whenever he was informed of an error committed by someone he would never say: "Why did 'such' the son of 'such' do such-and-such", rather, he would say "Why do some people do (or say) such-and-such?" In this manner he would caution them, but he would not mention the man by name. (Narrated by Abu-Dawood) Regarding his bravery Ali ibn Abi-Talib, one of the bravest young men in the Islamic nation said "In the heat of battle, [when the passions burned strongest,] we would seek shelter behind the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), for there was none closer to the enemy than him, and you had seen me on the day of Badr, battle of we were taking shelter behind the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) and he was the closest among us to the enemy" (Narrated by Abu-Dawood) Al-Bukhari narrated upon the authority of Anas "The Messenger of Allah was the best of mankind, and the most generous among mankind, and the bravest among mankind. The citizens of Al-Madinah awoke in a panic one night [to a sound], so they rode out towards the sound. On their way they met the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) returning, having beat them to the sound, saying: 'Do not worry, do not worry' and he was riding a horse of Abi-Talha with no saddle (in his hurry to reach that sound), around his neck hung his sword." During the first hours of the battle of Hunain, when many of the Muslims forsook Muhammad (pbuh) and fled the battle field, Muhammad (pbuh) stood firm in the field of battle as if nothing had happened saying "I am the Messenger, I lie not!. I am the son of Abdul-Muttalib."