بسم الله الرمان الرحيم
السلام عيكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
الحمد الله
The defeat at Badr was an ignominy which the Quraysh pride could not leave unavenged. Revenge was, therefore, the catchword all over Makkah. The mushrikeen even forbade lamenting over their murdered people, or ransoming their captives at Badr Battle lest the Muslims should realize the grave degree of sadness and feeling of tragedy they were experiencing. Due to this amongst many other reasons, the mushrikeen decided to attack the Muslims once again.
When the news reached Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم in Madinah, he immediately went to his Sahabah رضي الله عنهم for shura. Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم advised them that they should defend within Madinah but some of the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, who had missed Al-Jihad in Badr, suggested that the Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم should go out of Madinah and urged him to accept their point of view. One of them said: “O, Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, for long time we have been looking forward to this day; and we have implored Allah to make such a day draw near. Thanks to Allah it is time to fight. So let us go out and fight our enemies lest they should think that we have lost heart and do not dare to fight them.” Hamzah bin ‘Abdil Muttalib رضي الله عنه the paternal uncle of Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, who had already covered the ornaments of his sword with idolaters’ blood in Badr Battle, was ahead of those enthusiastics who urged him to go out and meet the disbelievers. He said to Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم: “By Allah, Who has sent the Book down unto you, I will not taste food till I fight them with my sword outside Madinah.” After weighing careful the pros and cons of the issue, it was decided that the enemy should be resisted outside the city at Uhud.
Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم led the afternoon prayer with crowds of people. Then he entered his house accompanied by his two friends Abu Bakr and ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما. They helped him dress and wear his head cloth. He صلى الله عليه و سلم armed himself and wore two armours one over the other. He صلى الله عليه و سلم then wore his sword and went out to meet people. People were waiting for him impatiently. Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh and Usayd bin Hudair رضي الله عنهما blamed people for pressing on Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم. They said: “You have forced Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم to fight the enemy outside Madinah.” Therefore they were determined to leave the whole matter to Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, and blamed themselves for what they had already done. When Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلمcame out, they said: “O Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, we should have not disagreed with you. So, you are free to do what you desire. If you prefer to stay inside Madinah we will stay with you. Upon this Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said something that should be written in gold: “It does not befit a Prophet that once he had put on armour, he should take it off, until Allah has decided between him and the enemy.”
Lessons learnt from this incident:
1) 1)Importance of making shura as Allah سبحانه و تعالى said describing the people who trust Him, “And those who answer the Call of their Lord and perform As-Salat, and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.”[1] And also when He سبحانه و تعالى was describing the favour He had upon Rasul Allah (SAWS), “And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah’s) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).”[2]
2) Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم was not arrogant because consulted with his Sahabah رضي الله عنهم and listened to their opinion
3) Love of Jihaad which is the noblest deed in Islam Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم and the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم had.
4) The care for the feelings of Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم and love for him the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم showed when they thought they had coerced him into something Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم did not want to do.
5) Firmness in decision of Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم in going out to Uhud to fight the kuffar. Another thing to note is that Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم was amongst the 5 Prophets عليهم الصلوات و السلام who were the title, “Ulul ‘Azm,” meaning the “Possessors of Strong Will,” the Prophets عليهم الصلوات و السلام were: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, ‘Isa and Muhammad.
6) We also learn the Tawakkul Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم had in Allah سبحانه و تعالى
7) Bravery of Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم and that shows one of his characteristics of manhood
8) Status of Prophets عليهم الصلوات و السلام in general with his صلى الله عليه و سلم’s statement, ‘It does not befit a Prophet that once he had put on armour, he should take it off, until Allah has decided between him and the enemy,’ which was of honour and nobility.
9) Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم even though he was a Prophet, had to prepare with worldly means contrary to the popular belief which is a Prophet عليه الصلاة و السلام does not need to prepare in worldly means because Allah سبحانه و تعالى would him.
10) Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم did not have the knowledge of the Unseen because if he did, then he wouldn’t have said, “…until Allah has decided between him and the enemy,” rather he would have said, “until Allah سبحانه و تعالى has given him victory.”
11) Making Allah سبحانه و تعالى the Judge in everything due to the saying of Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم“…until Allah has decided between him and the enemy.”
12) A Leader should represent his people and not vice versa and we learn this from, “…until Allah has decided between him and the enemy.” Notice that Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم used the word ‘him’ to represent the Muslims not us which shows the how great a leader Rasul Allahعليه الصلاة و السلامwas.
And indeed, Allah سبحانه و تعالى knows best.
سراجاً منير 