غزوة أحد
The Battle of Uhud
Shawwal, 3 AH (625 CE)
Mount Uhud, north of Madinah جبل أحد – المدينة
The Quraysh marched on Madinah with 3,000 warriors seeking revenge for Badr. The battle took place at Mount Uhud. The Muslims initially had the upper hand, but when the archers stationed on the hill disobeyed the Prophet's ﷺ order and left their positions to collect spoils, Khalid ibn al-Walid (then fighting for the Quraysh) led a cavalry charge from behind. The Prophet ﷺ was wounded in the face, his tooth was broken, and the Muslims suffered seventy casualties, including Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet's ﷺ beloved uncle, who was martyred and mutilated.
Why this matters
Uhud was a deeply painful lesson about the consequences of disobedience and the love of worldly gain. But it also revealed the Prophet's ﷺ incredible courage — he stood firm when most had fled. When the false rumor spread that the Prophet ﷺ had been killed, some lost heart, but others like Anas ibn al-Nadr charged forward saying: 'What is the use of living after the Messenger of Allah?' Sixty verses of Surah Aal-Imran address this battle.
Quran references
إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌۭ فَقَدْ مَسَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌۭ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ
Surah Aal-Imran, 140-142
If a wound has touched you, a similar wound has already touched the other people. We alternate these days among the people.
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ
Surah Aal-Imran, 144
Muhammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have passed before him.