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Concept
Battle of Uhud
Summary
The Battle of Uhud was a major engagement between early Muslims and the Quraysh during the Muslim-Quraysh War. The battle was fought in a valley north of Mount Uhud near Medina on Saturday, 23 March 625 AD (7 Shawwal, 3 AH),
After suffering defeat at the Battle of Badr and having their caravans endlessly attacked and plundered by Muhammad's side, the Quraysh finally saw the necessity to take strong measures. Their chief, Abu Sufyan, then set out for Medina with 3,000 troops to confront Muhammad.
The early phase of the fighting saw the Muslims gaining the initiative. The Quraysh vanguard began faltering and retreated, leaving their camps vulnerable. However when Muslim victory seemed near, the Muslim rear guard who were tasked to defend a hill to protect against a possible encirclement, abandoned their positions to collect spoils of war left by the fleeing enemy. This turn of events was exploited by the Quraysh general Khalid ibn al-Walid who launched a daring cavalry strike in the undefended rear and encircled the Muslims, thus turning the tide of battle.
The battle was seen as a significant setback for the Muslims and a minor victory for the Quraysh as they would return with an even larger force in the Battle of the Trench.
Muhammad initially spread his new religion in Mecca, where he found no opposition from the local people until he attacked their beliefs. As tensions with the Meccans increased, Muhammad brought his followers to migrate to Medina after his successful negotiations with Banu Aws and Khazraj to mediate their tribal conflicts. In Medina, Muhammad received divine revelation to fight the polytheists without being fought first, and he targeted the Meccan trade caravans for plunder. Muslim historians give no specific motive for these attacks. Peters, F. E., proposes that these raids were probably a quick remedy by Muhammad for the poverty of his people in the new land, who lacked agricultural skills and capital for trade.
Official source
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