13 / 54
10
Spirit of Islam Issue 35 November 2015
The truth revealed to
the Prophet was that
this world did not
spring up by itself,
but was created
by one God, who
continues to watch
over it.
battle—were inflicted on him. Yet throughout the twenty-three years of
his mission, he always remained just and circumspect in his actions. It
was not that he had no human feelings in him and, therefore, incapable
of bitterness; it was simply that his conduct was governed by the fear
of God.
Three years after the Prophet’s migration to Madinah, Makkan
opponents mounted an assault on Madinah and the Battle of Uhud
took place. At the beginning, the Muslims held sway; but later on a
mistake made by some of the Prophet’s Companions gave the enemy
the chance to attack from the rear and sway the tide of battle in their
favour. It was a desperate situation and many of the Companions
started fleeing from the field. The Prophet was left alone, encircled
by the armed forces of the enemy. Like hungry wolves, they advanced
upon him. The Prophet started calling to his Companions. “Come back
to me, O servants of God,” he cried. “Isn’t there anyone who will sacrifice
his life for my sake, who will fend these oppressors off from me and be
my Companion in Paradise?’
Imagine how dreadful the situation must have been, with the Prophet
crying for help in this manner. Some of his Companions responded to
his call, but such confusion reigned at the time that even these gallant
soldiers were not able to protect him fully. Utbah ibn Abi Waqqas
hurled a stone at the Prophet’s face, knocking
out some of his lower teeth. A famed warrior
of the Quraysh, Abdullah ibn Qumayyah,
attacked him with a battle-axe, causing two
links of his helmet to penetrate his face. They
were so deeply embedded that Abu Ubaydah
broke two teeth in his attempt to extract them.
Then it was the turn of Abdullah ibn Shahab
Zuhri, who threw a stone at the Prophet and
injured his face. Bleeding profusely, he fell
into a pit. When for a long period the Prophet
was not seen on the field of battle, the word
went around that he had been martyred. Then one of the Prophet’s
Companions spotted him lying in the pit. Seeing him to be alive, he
cried jubilantly, “The Prophet is here!” The Prophet motioned to him to
be silent, so that the enemy should not know where he was lying.
In this dire situation, the Prophet uttered some curses against certain
leaders of the Quraysh, especially Safwan, Suhayl and Harith. 'How can
a people who wound their prophet ever prosper!’ he exclaimed. Even
this was not to God’s liking, and Gabriel came with this revelation: