A Test & Lesson for the Believers

During the Battle of Uhud, when the disbelievers turned around and launched another attack, the Muslims suffered a loss. At the time, news also spread that the Holy Prophet (sa) had been martyred. Ibn Ishaq relates that upon the news of the Holy Prophet (sa) being martyred and when some of the people had dispersed, the first person who saw the Holy Prophet (sa) was Hazrat Kaab (ra) bin Malik. He relates, “I saw the sparkle of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) eyes from his helmet and shouted, ‘O Muslims! Rejoice, for the Messenger (sa) of Allah is here!’ Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophet (sa) indicated by the gesture of his hand to remain silent. When the Muslims recognised the Holy Prophet (sa), he went along with them towards the valley. With him were Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Talha (ra) bin Ubaidullah, Hazrat Zubair (ra) bin Awam, Hazrat Harith (ra) bin Simmah and various other esteemed Companions (ra).”

(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Fikr, 2002], p. 70)

On the day of Uhud, the Holy Prophet (sa) took bai‘at from a group of Companions (ra) on the condition that they would be ready to sacrifice their lives. At a time when it appeared as if the Muslims were suffering a loss, these people remained steadfast and risked their lives in order to defend the Holy Prophet (sa) to the point that some of them even embraced martyrdom. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Talha (ra), Hazrat Zubair (ra), Hazrat Saad (ra), Hazrat Sahl (ra) bin Hunaif and Hazrat Abu Dujanahra were all among these fortunate people who took this pledge.

(Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2005], p. 431)