Battle of Uhud

Battle of Uhud
Part of the Muslim-Quraysh Wars
Date 23 March 625 Location The valley that is located in front of the mountain of Uhud, and it is located about 5 miles from Medina Result Meccan victory
Fighting parties
Muslims	Quraysh-led coalition
Commanders
Muhammad	Abu Sufyan Khalid ibn al-Walid Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl
Strength
700-1000 infantry, 2-4 cavalry	3,000 infantry, 200 cavalry
Casualties and losses
70 or more killed	44-45

Map of the battle, showing the Muslim and Meccan lines respectively.

The Battle of Uhud (Arabic: غزوة أحد) was fought on 23 March 625 (3 Shawwal 3 AH in the Islamic calendar) at Mount Uhud, in what is now north-western Arabia. It occurred between a force from the Muslim community of Medina led by Muhammad, and a force led by Abu Sufyan from Mecca, the town from which many of the Muslims had previously emigrated (hijra). The Battle of Uhud was the second military encounter between the Meccans and the Muslims, after the Battle of Badr in 624, where a small Muslim army had defeated the larger Meccan army.

For the Muslims, the battle was a big setback.

Background

Muhammad had preached the religion of Islam in Mecca from 613 to 622. He had attracted a small community of followers, but also had opposition from the rest of the Quraysh, the clan that ruled Mecca and to which he belonged. The Muslims fled Mecca in 622 after years of persecution and established themselves at Medina (formerly known as Yathrib). They considered themselves to be in a state of war with Mecca and raided Meccan caravans. The Meccans sent out a small army to punish the Muslims and stop their raiding. At the Battle of Badr in 624, a small Muslim force defeated the much larger Meccan army.

Many Muslims considered this beany victory a proof that they had been favored by God (Arabic: Allah), and believed they were assured such victories in the future.

Bibliography

Books and journals

• Firestone, Rueven (1999). Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-512580-0. 
• I. Ishaq and A. Guillaume (October 2002). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford University Press, USA; New Impression edition. ISBN 0-19-636033-1. 
• Nafziger, George F.; Walton, Mark W. (2003). Islam at War: a history. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 0-275-98101-0. 
• Peters, F.E (1994). Muhammad and the Origins of Islam. Albany: SUNY Press. ISBN 0-7914-1875-8. 
• Watt, M Montgomery (1964). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-881078-4. 
• Watt, M Montgomery (1981). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford Univ Pr; New Ed edition. ISBN 0-19-577307-1. 

Encyclopedias

• Robinson, C. F "Uhud". 'Encyclopaedia of Islam Online'. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912. 

References

Other websites

• The battle of Uhud
• What were the reasons of the battle of Uhud?
• http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/audio/yasir_index.htm
• http://www.shia.org/ohud.html

Preceded by Banu Qaynuqa

Life of Muhammad Year: 625 CE

Succeeded by Banu Nadir