Meccans Believe they have Defeated the Muslims
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) has stated that the Holy Prophet (sa) was injured and fell unconscious. Then narrating the events after he regained consciousness, he writes:
“After a little while, the Holy Prophet (sa) returned to consciousness. The Companions (ra) who surrounded him sent out messengers to tell Muslims to assemble again. A disrupted army began to assemble once again. They escorted the Holy Prophet (sa) to the foot of the mount. Whilst the remaining army stood at the foot of the mount, Abu Sufyan (ra), cried aloud, ‘We have killed Muhammad (sa).’ The Holy Prophet (sa) forbade the Muslims to answer, lest the enemy should know the truth and attack again and the exhausted and badly-wounded Muslims fall prey to their attack. Not receiving a reply from the Muslims, Abu Sufyanra became certain the Holy Prophet (sa) had been killed. He followed his first cry by a second and said, ‘We have also killed Abu Bakr (ra).’ The Holy Prophet (sa) stopped Abu Bakr (ra) from replying. Abu Sufyan followed by a third, and said, ‘We have also killed ‘Umar (ra).’ At this point, Umar, who had a spirited disposition, wanted to say that ‘By God’s grace we are all alive and ready to fight you,’ however the Holy Prophet (sa) stopped him from saying anything, lest it puts the Muslims in further hardship. The disbelievers were now certain that they had killed the founder of Islam along with two of its pillars. Relishing in their victory, Abu Sufyanra raised the slogan,
أُعْلُ هُبَل أُعْلُ هُبَل
“‘Glory to Hubal! Glory to Hubal! For our revered idol Hubal has put an end to Islam.’”
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further says:
“The Holy Prophet (sa) ordered his Companions (ra) to remain silent upon hearing the news of Abu Bakr’s, Umar’s and his own death, lest the enemy army returns and launches another attack on the badly injured Muslims and these handful of Muslims become martyrs. But now it was the case of the honour of God Almighty, and a slogan of an idol was raised in the battlefield, the soul of the Holy Prophet (sa) became restless and in a state passion and vigour, he turned to the Companions (ra) and asked: ‘Why do you not reply to him.’ The Companions (ra) asked, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! What should we say?’ He replied:
“‘Say:
اللّٰهُ أَعْلَى وَأَجَلُّ اللّٰهُ أَعْلَى وَأَجَلُّ
“‘“You lie that Hubal is exalted. Allah, the One Who has no partner is Honoured and He alone is Exalted.’” And through this, he also conveyed to the enemy that he was still alive. This bold and courageous reply had such a deep impact on the enemy army that despite their hopes being crushed and despite the fact that only a handful of injured Muslims stood before them, and from a logical standpoint it was very easy for them to return and attack them, they could not muster the courage to do so. Content with the sort of victory they had won, they returned to Mecca rejoicing.”
(Dibachah Tafsir al-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 252-253)
Hazrat Aisha (ra) narrates that the following verse was regarding the Companions (ra):
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَجَابُوۡا لِلّٰہِ وَالرَّسُوۡلِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَاۤ اَصَابَہُمُ الۡقَرۡحُ ؕۛ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اَحۡسَنُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ وَاتَّقَوۡا اَجۡرٌ عَظِیۡمٌ
“As to those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger after they had received an injury – such of them as do good and act righteously shall have a great reward.” (Surah Aal-e-Imran, Ch.3: V.173)
She narrates:
“This verse is regarding the Companions (ra); i.e. those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger (sa) after they had received an injury – such of them as do good and act righteously shall have a great reward.”
Hazrat Aisha (ra) said to Urwah: “O my nephew! Your father Zubair (ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) were also from among them. During the Battle of Uhud, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was injured and the idolaters turned back, the Holy Prophet (sa) was worried lest they return. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked: ‘Who will go after them?’”
In response 70 Companions (ra) were ready to go, and according to Urwah, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Zubair (ra) were among them.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Bab Alladhina istajabu lillah wa al-Rasul…, Hadith 4077)
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:
“It is strange to note that on this occasion, although the Quraish had attained victory against the Muslims, and with respect to their apparent means, if they had desired, they could have further capitalized on this opportunity; not to mention, the opportunity to attack Medina was open to them in any case. However, the Power of God was such that despite this victory, in their hearts, the Quraish were struck with awe, and considering the victory attained in the field of Uhud as being lucky enough, they thought it wise to make haste to Mecca.
“Nevertheless, despite all this, as an act of further precaution, the Holy Prophet (sa) immediately dispatched a party of seventy Companions (ra), which also included Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Zubair (ra), in pursuit of the army of the Quraish. This is the narration, as it is related in Bukhari. The manner in which most historians describe the account is that the Holy Prophet (sa) sent Hazrat Ali (ra), or in light of various narrations, Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas in the footsteps of the Quraish and instructed him to bring news as to whether the army of the Quraish intended to attack Medina. The Holy Prophet (sa) went on to tell him that if the Quraish were mounted on their camels and were taking their horses along unmounted, then they should rest assured that they were returning to Mecca, and did not intend to attack Medina. However, if they were mounted on horses then they would know that their intention was not good. The Holy Prophet (sa) strictly instructed him that if the army of the Quraish was heading towards Medina, he should be informed at once and in a state of great passion, he said, ‘At this time, if the Quraish attack Medina, by God, we shall fight them and give them a taste of their own.’ Thus, the men dispatched by the Holy Prophet (sa) went and quickly returned with the good news that the army of the Quraish was proceeding towards Mecca.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 499-500)